Alexandria

Alexandria was the center of the Hellenistic intellectual world. The city was built by the Greek architect Dinocrates (332-331 BC) at the orders of Alexander the Great.

Ptolemy I Soter witnessed the birth of Alexandria and wanted her to be the cultural and intellectual capital of the world. Under the reign of Soter, the golden age of Alexandria, the new capital of Egypt, started. It was the site of the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as well as the Great Library.

The Pharos lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos off the coast.

Today Alexandria is the second largest city and the main port of Egypt.

See also

• Alexander the Great
• Cleopatra

External links

• The Ptolemaic City
• The Modern City