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ALEXANDRIA
founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC on the site of the Egyptian
village of Rakedet, Greek Rakotis. It became the capital of Ptolemaic
and Roman Egypt and included many fine buildings, notably
the famed Library of Alexandria and the Pharos, or Lighthouse, of
Alexandria, regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world. Alexander’s body was preserved in a special mausoleum in the
city. The city was also decorated with Egyptian monuments removed
from earlier sites, notably Heliopolis. The large cosmopolitan population
included Egyptians, Greeks, and Jews.
The city later suffered damage from earthquakes and invasion and
declined following the move of the capital to Cairo after the Arab
conquest in 642 AD. Many parts of the city appear to have sunk beneath
the harbor. Little of the ancient metropolis remains today, apart
from the area adjacent to the so-called Pompey’s Pillar. Excavations
by successive directors of the Graeco-Roman Museum have uncovered
many local burial catacombs with reliefs in a mixed Egyptian-
Roman style. Since 1960, a Polish expedition has worked at the site
of Kom el-Dikka uncovering a theater and baths. AFrench rescue expedition
excavated part of the main cemetery at Gabbari from
1997–2000, prior to the construction of a new expressway. Recent
surveys by teams of French divers have begun to reveal the parts of
the city now underwater and recovered Egyptian sculptures and reliefs.
Blocks in the sea near the fort of Qait Bey have been identified
as belonging to the original lighthouse.
Did you know archaeologists believe they've found the tombs of Cleopatra and Mark Antony in Alexandria this year? Another feather in this fine city's hat; check out some of our articles at Heritage Key!
yea i heard about this news but i think they need more time to find it also i heard about The Alexander Tomb they believe him Tomb in Alexandria
who knows maybe near they find it.