Alexandria, a City Celebrated by History
Dr. Khaled Gharib, Head of the Greek and Roman Antiquities Department at the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University
26 December 2017
02:00 PM
BA Afterlife Department, Antiquities Museum, B1, Main Building
The BA Antiquities Museum is organizing a lecture entitled "Alexandria, a City Celebrated by History” on Tuesday, 26 December 2017, at 2:00 pm at the BA Afterlife Department, Antiquities Museum, B1, Main Building.
The lecture will be held by Dr. Khaled Gharib, Head of the Greek and Roman Antiquities Department at the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University. The researcher will discuss the city of Alexandria and its special nature, as it was the first seaside capital of Egypt. It was also a commercial and cultural center, as well as a refuge for scientists from around the world.
Alexandria was referred to in the Oxyrhynchus Papyri as Alexandria, the fortified city during the second and third centuries; Alexandria, the independent city starting from the fourth century; Alexandria, the radiant city; and Alexandria, the Capital.
Many references regarding the status of Alexandria originated from the Islamic era. One of the most important sources was written by Michael the Syrian in the 12th century. He pointed out —for example—the existence of 308 fortified temples and palaces, 1655 yards and 5058 houses in the royal district. In modern times, after the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope in 1498, the city was neglected.
Sources indicate that the city was a kilometer long and a half kilometers wide and it was divided into two parts: the Turkish and the Arab city. However, since the arrival of Muhammad Ali’s reignin 1805, Alexandria entered a new phase in its history. New projects were established, and the Mahmoudiyah Canal was built to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Nile. Thus, this lecture discusses the importance of this great city in a presentation of its cultural heritage throughout the ages.