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Alexandria - Culture |
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Alexandria the Bride of the Mediteranian , and the major seaport of Egypt. The city was founded in 332 BC by Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, who planned it as one of the finest ports of the ancient world. Alexandria had had A famous lighthouse, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, that was built on Pharos island. The Alexandrian Library and Museum founded by the Ptolemies, influenced schools of all branches of ancient learning, and Under the Ptolemies, the Alexandria became the literary and scientific center of the whole ancient world. Alexandria has had, since ancient times, two harbors, of which the western one is the chief commercial center and the site of the customs house and many warehouses for cotton, grain, sugar, and wool. More than 80 percent of the imports and exports of the country pass through the city of Alexandria. The Graeco-Roman Museum The museum was first built in 1892 as a small building located on Horreya Road. In 1895 it was transferred to the present site near Gamal Abdul Nasser Road. It started with eleven galleries, and has been gradually enlarged in later renovation stages. The museum contains a very big variety of coins from different countries, chronologically arranged, and dating back from 630 BC to the Ottoman period in the 19th century. The collection, which covers the period from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD, is a fascinating record of civilization in the process of change as religions merged and society evolved. The museum contains hundreds of precious antiques.
This mosque, is Alexandria's largest and one of the most important Islamic monuments. In 1775 the Algerians built the mosque over the tomb of the thirteenth century Andalusan saint Ahmed Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi who had joined and then lead the Shadhali brotherhood. It was rebuilt in 1943 with its four domes, and the towering (73 meter) minaret. It is one of Alexandria's foremost religious buildings. The Muntazah Complex
The construction was started in 1892 by King Abbas II, who built a large palace inside the complex called the Salamlek. In 1932, King Fuad built a larger palace and called it the Haramlik. His son, King Farouk, built a bridge to the sea to act as a water front. The rest of the 115 acres is nothing but beautiful gardens. Palm trees and gazelles cover the area. This is a wonderful spot to enjoy the beauty of Alexandria. Pompey's Pillar An approximately 25m red Aswan granite column with a circumference of 9m, was constructed in honor of the Emperor Diocletain. Originally from the temple of the Serapis, it was once a magnificent structure rivaling the Soma and the Caesareum. Nearby are subterranean galleries where sacred Apis bulls were buried, and three sphinxes. After his defeat by Julius Caesar in the civil war, Pompey fled to Egypt where he was murdered in 48 BC; mediaeval travelers later believed he must be buried here, and that the capital atop the corner served as a container for his head. The Arabs called it "Amoud el-Sawari", Column of the Horsemen. The Pillar is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria. Fort Qaitbey (The Citadel of Qaitbey)
The Theatre of Kom-El-Deka Roman Amphitheatre. Founded in 1963, and dated back to the Roman period 2nd century, A.D. |
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The Mosque of Abu
El-Abbas al-Mursi
This 115 acre complex is surrounded by great walls from the south, east and west, and with the beach on its north side is used to belong to the Mohamed Ali family, that ruled Egypt from the mid 19th century until 1952.
This Fort was built in the 1480's by Sultan Qaitbey, on the site of Alexandria's ancient lighthouse. Parts of the remains of the lighthouse can be seen in the construction of the old fort. One of the seven wonders of the ancient World, the lighthouse was an astonishing 125m in height with approximately three hundred rooms at the bottom for workers. lighthouse was destroyed by an earthquake around 1100., In its place a Mosque was built, which was damaged by an earthquake in the 14th century. The entrance is through a gateway made of red Aswan granite. Located beside the mosque is a cistern that was used to store water in case of a siege. Also located inside the fort is the Naval Museum which contains artifacts from the Roman and Napoleonic sea battles.
