Alexandria

Attribution:

Steven Wagner

Key Dates

Founded in 332 BC around an earlier settlement, the city of Alexandria was the subject of many conquests, earthquakes and tsunamis before finally being taken by the Arabs in 641 AD. The forgotten catacombs were discovered in the 1800s.

Alexandria

Egypt

Key People

Among the rulers to have held sway over Alexandria are Alexander the Great, for whom the city is named, Julius Caesar and Octavian, later emperor Augustus. The month of August was named after him to celebrate his victory in taking the city.

Julius Caesar

VIDEO: John Julius Norwich on the Great Cities in History

One of the most famous cities of the ancient world, the city of Alexandria was a centre of Hellenism and home to a large Jewish community. Its library was once one of the wonders of the ancient world. It lighthouse - built in the 3rd century BC on the island of Pharos, in the mouth of the harbour - was once one of the Seven Wonders of the World (it collapsed after two earthquakes in the 14th century AD). Vast parts of the city were destroyed in the Greek-Jewish wars of 115 AD and much has since been lost to earthquakes and modern developments. Nevertheless, the city remains the site of some extraordinary relics.

Related Structures

The pillar of Pompey, the catacombs, the underground Serapeum, the ancient theatre, the Roman baths.

Admission Fee

Admission fees are payable at most of the ancient sites.

Related Websites

UNESCO site

Images

Put your Flickr photos of this object into the Heritage Key group, and tag them with heritagesite-1152, to see them here!

Location

Alexandria Alexandria

Egypt

31° 12' 53.352" N, 29° 56' 39.516" E