Few cities in the world can match the historical prestige and intellectual legacy of Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, Alexandria became the crown jewel of the ancient world and served as the capital of Egypt for nearly a thousand years , from the rise of the Ptolemaic dynasty to the Arab conquest in 641 CE. It wasn’t just a city; it was a symbol of civilization, science, and imperial grandeur.
The city’s layout was a masterpiece of ancient urban planning. Under the reign of Ptolemy II, and designed by the renowned Greek architect Dinocrates of Rhodes, Alexandria was built with precision and symmetry. The city connected the mainland to Pharos Island through a monumental causeway known as the Heptastadion, dividing the coast into two grand harbors , the eastern and the western , and laying the foundation for Alexandria’s maritime dominance.
Designed like a giant chessboard, the streets of ancient Alexandria were defined by two intersecting main roads with right-angled intersections and parallel side streets, reflecting both Greek order and Egyptian ambition. Within this grid, the city rose to fame with its most iconic landmarks: the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Great Library of Alexandria, a beacon of knowledge that welcomed scholars, scientists, and philosophers from across the globe. Together with the Mouseion, an ancient research institute, Alexandria became the intellectual capital of the Mediterranean.
Today, the spirit of that great city lives on beneath the waves and streets. Remnants of ancient Alexandria can still be found in its Roman theatre, sunken temples, underwater ruins, and Ptolemaic tombs. Every stone and submerged column is a reminder of a city that once stood as the beating heart of knowledge, culture, and power in the ancient world.
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