In 331 BCE, the sands of Egypt witnessed the inception of a city unlike any other. Following his conquest of the land from Persian dominion, Alexander the Great envisioned and initiated Alexandria, a settlement born not from gradual evolution but from a deliberate and ambitious plan.
This carefully conceived urban center would swiftly rise to prominence, forever altering the course of Mediterranean history and leaving an indelible mark on the world. This article delves into the foundational years of Alexandria, exploring its strategic selection, the integration of existing settlements, and the initial sparks of the cultural and intellectual powerhouse it would become.
The magnificent city of Alexandria, Egypt started its journey in 331 BCE after Alexander the Great captured Egypt from Persian control. Unlike other ancient settlements that grew naturally over centuries, Alexandria emerged from a clear vision and careful planning that would revolutionize Mediterranean history.
Alexander swept into Egypt after conquering Syria. The locals welcomed him as their liberator from Persian rule. He consulted the Oracle of Amon at Sīwah in Egypt's Western Desert and personally chose the location to build his namesake city. This made Alexandria the first city to carry its founder's name rather than a deity's name.
Ancient accounts tell us that Alexander drew the city's original design himself. He used grain to mark the streets because he didn't have chalk or other drawing tools.
The Greek architect Dinocrates of Rhodes took charge of the actual construction. He created the Hippodamian grid pattern where streets crossed at right angles. Alexander left his viceroy Cleomenes to oversee the city's development while he continued his Persian campaign.
Alexandria wasn't built on empty land. The site already had an Egyptian fishing village called Rhacotis that dated back to 1500 BCE. Archeologists found evidence that Rhacotis had advanced port facilities from the third millennium BCE.
Alexander made Rhacotis the Egyptian quarter on Alexandria's western side. The ancient settlement blended into the growing city but managed to keep its Egyptian character within the Greek-dominated metropolis.
Alexander's choice of this coastal site showed remarkable vision. The location offered several key advantages:
Alexandria was designed to take Naucratis's place as Egypt's main Greek center. The city served as a crucial connection between Greece and the rich Nile Valley[51]. It also helped fill the trade gap left after Alexander destroyed Tire in Phoenicia.
This strategic location proved successful faster than expected. After Alexander died in 323 BCE, his general Ptolemy I Soter took control of Egypt. He moved the capital from Memphis to Alexandria and started the Ptolemaic dynasty[61]. This marked the beginning of Alexandria's golden age, and the city grew to become the ancient world's largest metropolis.
Alexandria became the ancient world's intellectual heart under the Ptolemies. The city's remarkable institutions created knowledge that shaped civilization for thousands of years.
The Great Library stood as Alexandria's greatest achievement. This unprecedented repository, 2300 years old, built during Ptolemy I's reign and completed under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, held between 40,000 and 700,000 papyrus scrolls. Ships entering Alexandria's harbor had to surrender their texts to copy—this aggressive collection method built the world's largest knowledge base faster.
Scholars like Euclid created foundational mathematical principles in the Mouseion research complex. Eratosthenes calculated Earth's circumference with amazing precision. Alexandria's written knowledge stayed preserved here until several destructive events reduced it, starting with Caesar's fire in 48 BCE.
The lighthouse of Alexandria stood tall at the harbor entrance, showing both architectural brilliance and practical need. Built during Ptolemy II's reign at 800 talents of silver, this engineering marvel reached about 138 meters (453 feet) high. The three-tiered structure—square base, octagonal midsection, and cylindrical top—held fire beacons that ships could see from 35 miles offshore.
Alexandria remained the Mediterranean's leading cultural center during these periods. Greek intellectuals came to the city and their scholarly works advanced human knowledge. Trade flourished as Alexandria connected East and West, becoming a hub for international commerce and cultural exchange.
The city became a melting pot of religious thought. The Septuagint—Greek translation of Hebrew scriptures—emerged here and served Jewish communities across the Mediterranean. The city later became Christianity's early intellectual center and produced influential theological figures like Clement and Origen.
Philosophical schools thrived, combining Eastern and Western thought into new intellectual traditions that explored deep theological and metaphysical questions.
Alexandria's population dwindled to just 4,000-8,000 inhabitants by Napoleon's arrival in 1798, after centuries of Ottoman rule that began in 1517. This Mediterranean jewel once housed between 500,000 to a million residents during its ancient peak.
Muhammad Ali started Alexandria's revival around 1810 by connecting it to Cairo through the Mahmoudiyah canal and railway. The city reshaped the scene as a major cotton industry hub throughout the 19th century.
European communities made the shores their home, creating a vibrant cosmopolitan society. Greeks (400,000), Italians (300,000), Armenians (100,000), and Jews (90,000) dominated the population. The British colonized the city in 1882, yet French remained Alexandria's elite language until mid-twentieth century.
Alexandria's watershed moment arrived with the 1956 Suez Crisis when President Nasser announced the Suez Canal Company's nationalization from the city. Most foreign communities were expelled or left gradually. The city's demographic makeup changed dramatically after this exodus.
Alexandria gained further political importance when Egyptian police killed Khaled Said in 2010. This incident sparked a Facebook movement that helped fuel the 2011 protests that toppled President Mubarak.
Alexandria now enjoys renewed interest through ambitious projects like the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which opened in 2002. This modern institution houses 8 million volumes, 100,000 manuscripts, and 10,000 rare books, carrying forward the ancient Alexandria library's legacy. Visitors flock to the city year-round to enjoy:
Alexandria's distinctive identity has endured throughout its history. Local residents often say proudly: "I'm not from Egypt, me, I'm from Alexandriaaa". The city may not be as cosmopolitan as its heyday, but Alexandria's hometown remains a cultural melting pot where different identities blend in modern Egypt.
The modern city of Alexandria hides fascinating mysteries that engage archeologists around the world. Each new finding raises questions about this mysterious metropolis and its lost treasures.
The ancient Alexandria library's fate stands as one of history's most debated intellectual losses. People blamed Julius Caesar's troops for its destruction in 48 BCE, but modern scholars paint a different picture. Caesar's fire damaged only a warehouse with scrolls near the docks, not the main library building.
Historical records show Strabo visited the Mouseion complex around 20 BCE, which suggests it survived or was rebuilt. The library declined gradually through several events - from Ptolemy VIII's expulsion of scholars to Emperor Theodosius I's decree that allowed pagan temple destruction in 391 CE. The library existed only in memory by the 7th century when Arab forces captured Alexandria city in Egypt.
Archeologist Franck Goddio's underwater explorations in 1992 reshaped our understanding of Alexandria's history. His team mapped the harbor floor and found:
These findings proved that much of Alexandria's ancient city now lies beneath the Mediterranean, destroyed by earthquakes and tsunamis. A catastrophic tsunami in 365 CE killed about 50,000 Alexandrians and changed the Egyptian coastline forever.
Alexander the Great's final resting place remains archeology's holy grail, despite more than 140 documented searches. Historical texts confirm his body went to Memphis first before moving to Alexandria.
The tomb stayed available for centuries, and prominent Romans like Julius Caesar and Augustus visited it. All the same, its location disappeared from records around the 4th century CE. Some modern theories suggest it might be underwater in the ancient royal quarter or beneath Alexandria's modern Latin cemetery at El-Shatby.
Greek archeologist Kalliopi Papakosta has dedicated decades to finding Alexander's tomb. She uses ancient texts, 19th-century maps, and electrical tomography to guide her excavations.
Her work has revealed sections of the royal quarter where the lighthouse of Alexandria once stood. Rescue excavations throughout the city continue to uncover treasures before modern construction claims them forever.
Alexandria, Egypt, has historically been a significant meeting point of civilizations, renowned for its ancient library, a hub of knowledge, and its iconic lighthouse. Shaped by various empires and cultures, the modern city stands as a testament to resilience despite natural disasters that submerged parts of its ancient past.
This enduring legacy, coupled with unsolved mysteries like Alexander's tomb and the library's demise, adds to its global fascination. Today, Alexandria offers visitors a blend of ancient and contemporary life, with modern structures overlaying historical sites.
While no longer the ancient world's intellectual capital, it remains a vital, living museum that vividly illustrates humanity's cycles of creation, loss, and renewal, promising ongoing archaeological discoveries within its modern landscape.
Q1. Where is Alexandria located and what is its historical significance?
Alexandria is situated on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, in the western Nile Delta region. It was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE and became a major center of Hellenistic culture, commerce, and learning, home to the famous Library of Alexandria and the Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Q2. What happened to the ancient city of Alexandria?
Over time, parts of ancient Alexandria have submerged due to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as land subsidence and sea-level rise. The city experienced periods of decline but has also undergone transformations, including modernization in the 19th century when it became a hub for cotton production and trade.
Q3. Has Alexander the Great's tomb been found in Alexandria?
Despite numerous searches, Alexander the Great's tomb remains undiscovered. Historical texts confirm his body was brought to Alexandria, but its location vanished from records around the 4th century CE. Modern theories suggest it could be underwater in the ancient royal quarter or beneath the modern Latin cemetery at El-Shatby.
Q4. What can visitors see in modern Alexandria that connects to its ancient past?
Today's Alexandria offers a blend of ancient and modern attractions. Visitors can explore underwater archeological sites, visit the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina (inspired by the ancient library), walk along the Corniche where the ancient royal quarter once stood, and enjoy historic hotels like the Steigenberger Cecil.
Q5. How has Alexandria's cultural makeup changed over time?
Alexandria was once a highly cosmopolitan city with large Greek, Italian, Armenian, and Jewish communities. However, following the 1956 Suez Crisis and subsequent political changes, most foreign communities departed. Today, while less diverse than in its heyday, Alexandria remains a cultural melting pot within modern Egypt, maintaining its distinctive identity.
Best Tour of Greece and Egypt
Explore Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini before discovering Egypt’s Pyramids, Nile Cruise, and Luxor temples.
5Impecable
Guide in english
5-Day Cairo Short Break
Explore the majestic Cairo's iconic Pyramids, the Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, an optional Alexandria day trip, and more.
5Impecable
Guide in english
Giza Pyramids, Nile by Air Tour
Explore Egypt's wonders with a Nile cruise, visiting the Pyramids, Luxor, Aswan, and more in an unforgettable 8-day journey.
5Impecable
Guide in english
Pyramids, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel
Experience Egypt’s iconic sights, including the pyramids, Abu Simbel, and Nile Cruise, with guided tours and local culture.
5Impecable
Guide in english
Trip to Egypt: Pyramids & Nile by Train
Explore Cairo, the Pyramids, Nile cruise, Luxor, and Aswan on a week-long Egyptian adventure.
5Impecable
Guide in english
Keep Reading
