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Alexandria

The Building of Alexandria

The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the
Mediterranean", has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern ; its
ambience and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country although it is
actually only 225 km. from Cairo.

Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of Graeco-
Roman Egypt, its status as a beacon of culture symbolized by Pharos, the legendary
lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the stormy
relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of
learning in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon
landed, he found a sparsely populated fishing village.

From the 19th century Alexandria took a new role, as a focus for Egypt's commercial and
maritime expansion. This Alexandria has been immortalized by writers such as E-M-
Forster and Cavafy. Generations of immigrants from Greece, Italy and the Levant settled
here and made the city synonymous with commerce, cosmopolitanism and bohemian
culture.

Alexandria is a city to explore at random. It's as important to enjoy the atmosphere as it is

to see the sights.
El-Montaza Palace and Gardens

This was the summer residence of the ex-royal

family. The palace is situated on a high hill over
looking the most exquisite beach on the eastern tip
of Alexandria, surrounded by an extremely large
garden, unique in its harmonious combinations of
flowers, together of a wood 370 fed. in area. Parts
of the buildings was converted to some hotels

The Mostafa Kamel Graveyard

The graveyard includes four tombs dating

from the second century BC, all of which
are in excellent condition and beautifully
decorated. The graveyard was named after
Mostafa Kamel, one of Egypt's greatest
twentieth century political legends. His
most famous phrase is, "If I was not born
as an Egyptian, I would love to be an
Egyptian."

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 25th gallery
was inaugurated in 1984. It 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.

In Alexandria, Graeco-Roman and Pharaonic religions mingled in the cult of Serapis; the
shift from pagan religions to Christianity can also be seen in the exhibits which include
mummies, Hellenistic statues, busts of Roman emperors, Tangara figurines, and early
Christian antiquities.

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. In
fact, the pillar was raised in honor of Diocletain at the very
end of the 4th century. Diocletain captured Alexandria after
it had been under siege. The Arabs called it "Amoud el-
Sawari", Column of the Horsemen. The Pillar is the tallest
ancient monument in Alexandria.

The Library of Alexandria

At the meeting point of the three continents, Asia, Africa and Europe, Egypt has been the
cradle of civilizations since ancient times. The ancient city of Alexandria was at the
beginning of the third century B.C. the birthplace of the great plan to build a library: the
Bibliotheca Alexandria. But a fire, which ravaged Alexandria, destroyed the library, this
vast storehouse of learning. The Egyptian Government, in co-operation with UNESCO,
has decided to resurrect the old dream to endow this part of the world with an important
focal point for culture, education and science.

The Shatby Tomb

The tomb dates from the third century BC and was patterned after an old Greek house
with an entrance, a front room, and a back room. It is very similar to the ones found in the
Anfushi district, and is considered to be Alexandria's oldest tomb.

The Roman Theater

(Kom Al-Dikka)

Over 30 years of excavation

have uncovered many Roman
remains including this well-
preserved theatre with
galleries, sections of mosaic-
flooring, and marble seats for
up to 800 spectators. In
Ptolemaic times, this area was
the Park of Pan and a pleasure
garden. The theater at one point may had been roofed over to serve as an Odeon for
musical performances. Inscriptions suggest that it was sometimes also used for wrestling
contests. The theatre stood with thirteen semi-circular tiers of white marble that was
imported from Europe. Its columns are of green marble imported from Asia Minor, and
red granite imported from Aswan. The wings on either side of the stage are decorated
with geometric mosaic paving. The dusty walls of the trenches, from digging in the
northeast side of the Odeon, are layered with extraordinary amounts of potsherds. Going
down out of the Kom, you can see the substantial arches and walls in stone, the brick of
the Roman baths, and the remains of Roman houses.

The Catacombs of Kom El-Shouqafa

These tombs were tunneled into the bedrock in the age of the Antonine emperors (2nd
century A.D.) for a single wealthy family still practicing the ancient religion. As a
privately financed project, it is an
engineering feat of some magnitude. These
tombs represent the last existing major
construction for the sake of the old
Egyptian religion. They are alone worth the
trip to Alexandria. Though the funerary
motifs are pure ancient Egyptian, the
architects and artists were schooled in the
Greco-Roman style. Applied to the themes
of Ancient Egyptian religion, it has resulted
in an amazing integrated art, quite unlike
anything else in the world. A winding
staircase descends several levels deep into
the ground, with little chapels opening from
it, furnished with benches to accommodate
visitors or mourners bringing offerings. There is niches cutout to hold sarcophagi.

Fort Qaitbey (The Citadel of Qaitbey)

The island of Pharos was a major port having two huge harbors. The 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. Running through the
center was a double spiral ascent and hydraulic machinery that raised fuel to the top. The
lantern at the top of the lighthouse remains a mystery. Some say it contained a polished
steel mirror that reflected light by day, and fire by night. Others say it was made of
transparent glass. The lantern and the top two stories fell around 700 AD according to
many reports, and the rest of the 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.

The Tegran Necropolis

The necropolis is located west of Alexandria in the Wardian district. The tomb is dated to
the 2nd century BC and was built for a rich man in Alexandria during the Roman era. The
decoration of the tomb is influenced by the ancient Egyptian motifs of funerary art. In the
tomb is a mural of a mummified corpse that was laid on
a bier and a figure of two mourners connected with the
goddesses Nephthys and Isis. On the top of the bier is the
winged sun-disk.
Sidi Abd El-Rahiman

Lies about 127 kms. From Alexandria,

163 kms. From Mersa Metruh, and 385
kms. From El -Salloum , on a quiet bay
25 kms. West of El - Alamein . This area
is noted for its dry air, fascinating azure
crystal - clear waters, and white fine
sandy beaches. The El - Alamein tourist
hotel is equipped with the latest facilities
to ensure a comfortable stay for its
guests. Annexed thereto are villas,
surround - Ed by exquisitely beautiful
sceneries. There is also a tourist camp
equipped with all services necessary for
the visitors, affiliated to the Municipal
Council of Sidi Abdel -Rahman.

The Temple of Taposiris Magna

The temple was built in the Ptolemy era and finished the construction of Alexandria. The
temple is located in Abusir, the western suburb of Alexandria. The temple was dedicated
to Osiris. Only the outer wall and the pylons remain from the temple. There is evidence to
prove that sacred animals were worshipped there. Archeologists found an animal
necropolis near the temple. Remains of a Christian church show that the temple was used
as a church in later centuries. Also found in the same area are remains of public baths
built by the emperor Justinian, a seawall, quays and a bridge. Near the beach side of the
area, we can see the remains of a tower built by Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The tower was
an exact scale replica of the destroyed Alexandrine Pharos Lighthouse.

The Amphitheater

The amphitheater consists of thirteen gray and white marble levels of terraces that lead
down to the arena. Its buttressed wall was designed in a semicircular style to act as a
passageway that ran beneath the early theater. Not far away from the theater are some
ruins of the Roman baths.

The St. Marcos Church

This church reputedly was established by St. Mark the Evangelist who brought
Christianity to Egypt. The current church is built on the remains of an earlier church and
is in the basilican style. The church has a large hall that leads to the 11th century
cemetery of Coptic archbishops

The Anfushi Tombs

These limestone tombs, which date from about 250

BC, are painted to simulate alabaster and marble.
They are decorated with pictures of Egyptian gods
and daily life, along with graffiti, which also dates
from the same period.

The tomb lies to the south of the esplanade leading

to the palace of "Ras el-Tin" and consists of five
tombs, all dating from the first half of the 3rd century. They were discovered in 1901 and
1921. The first and most remarkable of the tombs is reached by way of a vaulted stairway
hewn out of the rock, leading down into a square courtyard which is open to the sky and
provides access to two tombs. The walls of the stairway and tombs have a painted stucco
revetment imitating alabaster and marble. The vaulted ceiling of the funeral chamber is
decorated with geometric "trompe l'oeil" designs reminiscent of the covered ceiling in
certain ancient villas. The funeral motifs are an example of the combined influence of
Greek art and the traditional forms of Egyptian arts.

Alexandria’s Submerged Monuments

Over its long history,

Alexandria has been the cradle
of several civilizations of the
ancient world; Pharaonic,
Hellenistic and Roman. This
multicultural museum lies
safely under Alexandria’s
Mediterranean coastal waters,
that, during the Fifth Century
B.C. formed part of the ancient
city of Alexandria and was
devastated by earthquakes and
tidal erosion.

In view of the lack of

scientifically verified information of a relatively obscure epoch of Egyptian history, a
project was initiated in 1992 by the Supreme Council for Antiquities, in cooperation with
the European Institute of Submerged Antiquities, to make a topographic survey of the
area of royal facilities at the submerged parts, specifically the Eastern Port, which
commands a major historical importance.

Villa of Antoniadis

The Villa of Antoniadis is

a very famous and
important site in
Alexandria, and yet is not
frequented by many
tourists. The Villa is listed
as historical monument
number 1,250 in the
governorate conservation
registry. It lies near the
Mahmoudia Canal at the
southern entrance of
Alexandria, and is
surrounded by some 48
hectares of greenery in
several sections. They
include the Antoniadis
Garden, the Flower
Garden, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens and the Nouzaba (Nuzha) Garden, which
was a residential suburb inhabited by the likes of Callimachous (310-240 BC), the head
librarian of the ancient Library of Alexandria at that time. In 640 AD, the Roman general
Pompilius thwarted the King of Syria's attempt to capture Alexandria, while in the same
year the cavalry of the Arab conqueror Amr Ibn el-As pitched camp before entering the
city.

Lake Mariut

Lake Mariut (Mariout, Maryut, Mareotis) is just south of, and actually forms the southern
border of Alexandria. Along the shore are reed-beds where fishermen, as in ancient times,
move about in flat-bottomed boats propelled by long poles. As in the Nile Valley, where
much farming continues to be carried on in much the same way as in ancient times, here,
fisherman also carry on mostly following in their ancestor's footsteps.
 Mosques

The Mosque of Abou El-Abbaas El-

Morsi

The most important historic mosque in

Alexandria, Egypt, as well as a very
beautiful one, is considered to be that of
Abu El Abbas El Mursi. Constructed in
1775 by Algerians, it was built over the
tomb of the thirteenth century Murcia
Andalusan saint, Ahmed Abu al-Abbas
al-Mursi (Abu'l 'Abbas) who joined and
then lead, as a devout Sufi, the Shadhali
brotherhood. Abu El Abbas El Mursi is
in himself a very interesting story.

His entire name was Sheikh Shehab El

Din Abu El Abbas Ahmed Ibn Umar
Ibn Mohamed Al Ansary El Mursi. He
was born in Andalusia (an autonomous
district of Spain, the capital of which is Seville) in 616 H (1219 AD) to a wealthy family
in the trading business. He was therefore well educated, having been instructed in the
Quran, Sunna and Shehab, and he grew up helping his
father in the trading business. He was also known for his
honesty and for his many contributions to the needy.

The Attarine Mosque

The Attarine district is considered to be one of the most

interesting areas in Alexandria. It is a sprawling antiques
district. There are antique shops piled high with European
furniture and trinkets that date back to Napoleonic times.
Here, also, the intriguing belongings of many Europeans
who fled the 1952 revolution are up for sale.

The Attarine Mosque is located in the middle of this

unique area, on Attarine Mosque Street. This mosque was originally a church dedicated
to Saint Athanasius in 370 AD. When Islam came to Egypt, the church was converted
into a small mosque, which was built up and eventually became known as the Mosque of
a Thousand Columns. As time passed, this mosque started to get old and some of its
ceilings were damaged at the beginning of the Fatimid period.

The Terbana Mosque

Built in 1677, Terbana Mosque is one of the few remaining

ancient mosques in Alexandria. It is located at the corner
of Terbana street and Suq el-Tabakheen Street. The
entrance of the mosque is a portal of bicolor bricks. A
visitor can see two enormous granite columns with
Corinthian capitals, and there are a number of ancient
columns that are scattered inside the mosque. The mehrab,
a corner in the mosque which shows prayers directions to
Mecca, is covered with North African style ceramics.

Imam al-Boseiri Mosque

Dedicated to the memory of Imam Sharafeddin Mohammad ben Said al-Boseiri (b. 608
of the Hijri calendar), the Mosque in its present form stands in al-Gomrok district, where
several other Islamic relics are found.

Sidi Bishr Mosque

The mosque is dedicated to the memory of Sheikh Bishr ben al-Hussein ben Mohammad
ben Ubaydallah ben al-Hussein ben Bishr al-Gohari a pious and devoutly religious
Moroccan who settled in Egypt in the early 6th Century of the Hijri calendar.

Al-Nabi Danial Mosque

The mosque is dedicated to the memory of the god-fearing Sheikh Mohammad Danial al
Mosuli who came to Egypt from Mosul, Iraq in the late 8th century of the Hijri calendar
and settled in Alexandria until his death in H 810. He is buried inside the mosque.
 Museums

National Museum

The Alexandria National

Museum has grown in
importance these days, and
is now considered one of
Egypt's finest museums. It
was inaugurated by
President Hosni Mubarak
on December 31st, 2003,
and is one more addition to
the reasons one should
visit this grand old city.
The national museum is
located in a restored palace
and contains about 1,800
artifacts that narrate the
history of Alexandria throughout the ages, including the Pharaonic, Roman, Coptic and
Islamic eras. There are even some more modern pieces, including 19th century glassware,
silverware, chinaware and precious jewels, which provide a sense of the richness of the
court of Mohammed Ali and his descendants. Mummies are shown in a special
underground chamber (basement). Also, some of the items found during the
archaeological underwater excavations in Alexandria are now on the same floor as the
Greco-Roman artifacts.

The Royal Jewelry Museum

The museum is located in the Zizinia

neighborhood. It was once the palace of
Fatma el-Zahara and is an architectural
masterpiece. Its halls contain many rare
paintings, statues and decorations. An inestimable collection of jewels of the Mohamed
Ali Dynasty (19th century) is also exhibited.

The Museum of Fine Arts

The museum houses a spectacular collection of sculptures, paintings and architectural

works. Exhibitions by contemporary artists, both Egyptian and non-Egyptian are often
held there. Furthermore, the museum organizes the Alexandria Biennially, every two
years, to display the art of the Mediterranean countries

Al-Alemein War Museum

The The Al-Alemein War Museum is located 105

kilometers west of Alexandria and about five kilometers
west of the Marina resort. It is placed within the military
areas of El Alumni. The museum was opened in the year
1956 during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser as a
memorial of the The Battle of Al-Alamein between the
British and the Germans in 1942 and the battles that took
place in South Africa during the Second World War. The
Al-Alemein War Museum was renewed and reopened in
1992 during the presidency of Mubarak. The museum is
one of the best place to visit in order to achieve an
understanding of Story of World War II in Egypt.

The Al-Alemein Museum is a complete illustration of the

story of World War II in North Africa, containing
records of all the events. Even before entering the
Museum proper, in the garden are huge army tanks and
various larger weapons. A visitor can view this heavy equipment from World War II, go
inside a tank or an army car, or even jump up and sit atop a tank. The garden has about
fifteen large pieces used by different forces in the Battle of Al-Alemein.

Inside the museum there are five halls. Each of them is dedicated to one of the four
countries involved in the war, which include Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Egypt.
The museum also has a mixed hall that contains items from the war generally.