The First approach to Alexandria and other Alexandria, Egypt Things to Do Tips

Quote:
" The Macedonians went on along the Nile to the northwest, passed the old Greek ports of trade Naucratis and Marea, and reached the Mediterranean again. In January 331, Alexander decided to found a new town on the western mouth of the Nile, which was to be called Alexandria. The actual founding ceremony took place on 7 April . In fact, it was not a completely new foundation: archaeologists have discovered older walls and we know its old name, Rhacotis, from literary sources. As always, Alexander had several motives to found a new city. He may have been happy that he could leave behind his wounded and his veterans, who could begin a second life. Many Greek emigrants came to the new city. But Alexandria was to be more than just a settlement for veterans and immigrants: its location in the northwest of Egypt strongly suggests that the founder of the city wanted to open a trade route to the Aegean sea. As such, it was to be one of his greatest and most lasting successes."
Unquote (The map and the text are copied from: *http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexander/alexander08.html),

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Address: Nile Delta before the foundation of Alexanria
Directions: Egypt
Website: http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexander/alexander_t10.html

The Site:Alexandria Serapeum.

The Monument:A column raised in 300 A.D. in honour of Emperor Diocletian, who saved the city of Alexandria from a frightful famine.On the western side of the column is engraved, "To the just Emperor, the god of Alexandria, the invincible Diocletian." Nevertheless It was called Pompey’s Pillar by the French under certain mistaken impression regarding Pompey’s head.The Arabs called it "Amoud el-Sawari", Column of the Horsemen, bearing in mind or rather imagination that it might have been a base of the emperor’s statue as a cavalry on his horse.

The Material is 22 meters height and 9 meters diameter of polished red granite brought from Upper Egypt across the Nile! You will soon ask HOW? The ancient Nilometer at the site shows that the Nile Canobic Branch had been penetrating this area to its mouth at Canope (known now as Abu Qir) on the Mediterranean Coast.

The Crown is Corinthian Greek Style.

The top of the pillar’s crown was accessed in a very simple, easy but funny method: They flew a kite; when the thread reached the top, they lowered it till the ground and fastened a thick rope capable to raise people to the top…. Believe it! It isn’t a joke of mine.

In a VT meeting here, two of my virtual daughters. VT comate Mrs. Lana, in her fortnight visit to Egypt in March ‘05; and my student –the assistant curator, who graciously guided us to the Serapeum. Cordial greetings for both.*

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Address: Alexandria, Egypt
Directions: Karmoz, Alexandria popular area

Guess!

Do you need a clue? It was one of the submerged monuments at Abu Qir Gulf!!*

Let me help!

Isis is one of the most important goddesses in ancient Egyptian religion. She was the goddess of love and the symbol of devotion as a wife and mother. She was the goddess of maternity, and protector of mother and child.She was worshipped all over Egypt,

Headless statue of a woman (probably the goddess Isis), in a striding posture, in which the left leg is advanced. She is dressed in a transperent garment that accentuates the beauty of her body. The dress is tied on the left shoulder in a knot. The right arm is stretched along the side of the body and the hand is missing. The feet are also missing.

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Address: Alexandria, Egypt
Directions: Museum of Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The Graeco-Roman Museum at Alexandria hosts a fantastic collection of such lively little Hellenistic terracotta statues of beautiful ladies from daily life. Each statuette stands in a different posture.

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Address: Alexandria, Egypt
Directions: Graeco-Roman Museum

Tanagra was a chief town of east Boeotia in Greece. In the 4th century it declined in importance, but it flourished in Hellenistic and Roman times. In Alexandria such trracotta figures kept the name and the art.

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Address: Alexandria, Egypt
Directions: Alexandria National Museum

Apis (in Egyptian , Hapi) was a form of the Nile-god. He was later known as an incarnation of the son of Osiris.

At Memphis Apis was worshipped as the renewed life of Ptah.

The chief cult centre of Apis was moved to Alexandria under Ptolemy Soter who, when he as pondering which god could be made the national deity, had a dream in which he saw a staute of a bull-god. Ptolemy ordered it to be brought to Alexandria, and built a new Serapeum for it there.

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Address: Alexandira, Egypt
Directions: Graefo-Roman Museum

Ancient Greeks worshipped Zeus, and considered him the father of all their gods.

The photo is part of a msterpiece bronze statue at Athens. Some think that it may be sea god Poseidon.

Yes, I can feel yor inquiry...!?*

Guess! Why is this mentioned here, now?

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Address: Athens, Greece
Directions: Athens National Museum

The compromise : Serapis*

This feature of god was invented in Alexandria by Ptolemy I with the intention of providing a god capable of being worshipped by both Egyptians and Greeks.

Apis bulls -as above mentioned- were considered sacred from very early times in Egypt.

This was his compromise and both -the bull and the man shapes- kept the Egyptian god's name Serapis -derived from Osarapis = Osiris+Apis.

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Address: Alexandria, Egypt
Directions: Graeco-Roman Museum

On this island of Pharos, which Alexander the Great connected with Alexandria mainland by a mole nearly a mile long, Ptolemy 2nd erected a lighthouse, said to be the first of its kind. It was one of the Ancient World’s Seven Wonders.

Not only had its high brazier of fire guided the ships into harbour, but it had housed a large garrison in its three hundred rooms. Gone was its vast mirror of legendary fame, it had been said that cities far away could be glimpsed in it like mirages, and that should and enemy ship appear, the rays of the sun could be relfected on it with enough intensity to envelop it in flames.

During the 14th century successive earthquakes and a gigantic tidal waves demolished the city. All traces of the wonderful lighthouse vanished.

Nowadays we can see a Fort instead...

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Address: eastern of alexandria-Anfushi area
Directions: Alexandria, Egypt

The Kom As-Shouqafa Catacombs were accidentally discovered in 1900 when a donkey and cart fell through the ground revealing the undergroung chambers and tombs.

What is so funny is when a large chamber "the Funerary Hall of Caracalla" was opened, it hosted skeletons of horses as well. The Emperor was inordinately fond of horses.

It seems that our poor donkey was keen to find out some of his kinship ancestors!

I hope you don't miss the next page!

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Address: Alexandria, Egypt
Directions: Konm As-Shoqafa, Nasreya, Karmouz.