Alexandria

 

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Alexandria

Alexandria

The Egyptian town of Alexandria, founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, became, in the period known as late ancient history, the main port of Egypt as well as the capital of the country.

The Egyptian town of Alexandria, founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, became, in the period known as late ancient history, the main port of Egypt as well as the capital of the country. It was one of the cultural centres of the Mediterranean, its notoriety surely due to the presence of the famous library. The second largest of Egypt’s cities, Alexandria’s ambiance, which is more Mediterranean than oriental, together with its cultural wealth, set it apart from the rest of the country. It is also fairly accessible being only 140 miles from Cairo.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the Greco-Roman Egyptian capital. Its status as the star of Egyptian culture is symbolised by Pharos, or the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The city was equally the centre of study of the ancient world. However, the glory of Alexandria diminished over the years and by the time Napoleon turned up he found a village inhabited by fishermen. From the 19th century onward Alexandria enjoyed a new role, this time as the catalyst for the commercial and maritime growth of Egypt. It was this Alexandria that was immortalised by authors such as Forster and Cavafy (a Greek poet). The immigrant generations from Greece, Italy and Asia gifted back the city its glorious origins through commerce, cosmopolitanism and the bohemian culture. Laurent Durrell described Alexandria as “the capital city of Asiatic Europe, if such a thing were to exist.” Further to the south, the port of El Quoseir was already used by the pharaohs. The town, which has been able to keep hold of its authenticity in the shadow of its 16th century fortress, attracts every year new holiday-makers on a quest for tranquility. Hotels have started to sprout from the sand and it is true to say that the city possesses that sought after asset, choice.




The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built to protect the sailors off the Alexandria coast, of course, but also, according to Jean-Yves Empereur, as a work of propaganda. The whole town had been built to excess and the Lighthouse was to be its symbol. The edifice’s full name, ???. Although there were other buildings equally as famous as the Lighthouse in Alexandria (The Royal Library, The Alexandria Tomb), it would become emblematic of the town and is still is to this day.
The Lighthouse dominated the coast and gave sailors a point of reference, the coast being fairly straight.
Strabon tells us that the Lighthouse was built in a white stone, which was most probably local limestone which had the property of hardening on contact with water. It is also believed that the most critical parts of the Lighthouse were built from granite from Aswan. Fort Qaitbay, constructed on the same site as the Lighthouse was also built as such.

Category : Egyptian Towns
items Date : 01/08/2009
Author of items : Charles Rossignol