Nikanor was an Alexandrian Jew who risked his life to protect the doors he had donated to the Temple. While he was transporting them by sea to the Land of Israel, a storm arose. A miracle was performed on his behalf, and his doors did not sink into the sea.

Miracles were performed on behalf of Nikanor’s doors. The Sages taught: What miracles were performed on behalf of his doors? They said: When Nikanor went to bring doors for the eastern gate of the Temple from Alexandria in Egypt, a giant wave arose in the sea on his return voyage and threatened to drown him. The passengers took one of the doors and cast it into the sea. But the sea still did not rest from its rage. They sought to cast the other door into the sea as well. Nikanor stood and embraced it. He said to them: Cast me into the sea with it. Immediately, the sea rested from its rage, and for the rest of voyage he was pained about the other door [that it had been cast into the sea].

When they arrived at the port of Akko, the door that had been thrown into the sea was protruding under the sides of the ship. Some say that a sea creature had swallowed it and spewed it onto the land...All the gates in the Temple were replaced and became gold, except for the doors of the Gate of Nikanor [which remained bronze], because miracles had been performed on their behalf. Some say [they were left as bronze] because their bronze was brightly colored. Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov says: It was bronze made from refined copper, and it illuminated like gold. (Yoma 38a)