General History And Information

ALEXANDRIA is the second largest city in Egypt, and its largest seaport. It is extends about 20 miles (32 km) up and down the Mediterranean sea in northwest Egypt and it isPort city of northern Egypt.it`s population about 3.5 to 5 million.

THE HISTORY OF ALEX:

Founded by and named for Alexander the Great around 334 B.C,He came to visit the famous oracle temple of amon during his way he stopped to take rest when he reached between the Mediterranean sea in the north and a lake of Mariott in the south,he was struck by the excellent position of an ancient village called (( Rhakotis )) and this ideal site offered an ideal site for building a great city bearing his name called  Alexandria and became the capital of egypt during greeco-roman time,Alexander's chief architect for the project was Deinocrates of Rhodes.

In ancient times, the city was known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and the Library of Alexandria (the largest library in the ancient world).

After the death of Alexander the Great a struggle was happened by the other successors to him,And his empire was divided among his generals, his general, Ptolemy ( later Ptolemy I of Egypt ) declared himself king of egypt and he was the founder of the ptolemic dynasty which ruled egypt for nearly three centuries ended with queen Cleoptra the last queen of this dynasty.

At the battle of Actium in 30 B.C by the roman general Octavian against Cleopatra and Mark antony, they lost the battle and Egypt became a province of the roman empire.

The roman rule lasted till the middle of the 7th century till the arabs entered egypt by amr ibn -al -as the first islamic leader who entered egypt o spreading islam at 624 A.D

What to see in Alexandria?

Pompey's Pillar :-

Mistakenly named so in the Middle Ages, this granite pillar is over 28meters high. Built  in
AD 297 AD in honor of Emperor Diocletian, it is the most prominent remaining Greek
landmark in Alexandria.

The Roman Amphitheatre :-

Located downtown at Kom al-Dikkah the Roman amphitheatre is
considered unique in Egypt. Discovered only in the early 1960's
while laying the foundation of a new building, the amphitheatre
has twelve semi-circular marble tiers in  good condition.

The Catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa :-

This is the largest Roman cemetery in Alexandria. It is composed
of three levels cut 30 meters deep into the existing rock. Dating
to the beginning of the Second Century AD, it is a mix between
the Pharaonic and Roman art.

The Fort of Qaitbay :-

Erected on the north side of the Eastern Port on the site of the
ancient Pharos of Alexandria,it was built in 1480 it was
established by al sultan Al shraf Qaitbay  the fort design is
influenced by both medieval architecture,it was built over the
remain of the ancient lighthouse.

Al-Montazah Palace :-

Built on a low plateau east of Alexandria and overlooking a
beautiful beach amid about 370 feddans of gardens and woods,
the palace comprises a number of buildings, the most important
being Al-Haramlek and Al-Salamlek, the summer residence of
the former royal family.

Alexandreia library :-

One of the great project made at alexandria see its link down......

http://www.bibalex.org/english/index.aspx

don`nt miss to taste the sea-food there also

and much more...

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