Alexandria

the former capital of Egypt, was by Alexander the Great on the coast of Mediterranean not far from Lake Mareotis, and a distance of 118 miles from Cairo. At the of the conqueror Egypt fell to the share Ptolemeus Soter, an enlightened ruler, who colthe splendid library, now unhappily destroyed, built the famous Pharos. His succe ors themselves on making the city a centre of and science, as well as of commerce, and in 48 B.c, it fell into Roman hands there was perceptible diminution of its lustre. Christianity one of its first homes there; and the mixture Greek philosophy. with Eastern mysticism that a the cal later till by who destroyed ishable ancient centuries became The was covery to the the French a walls the place Mehemet were there the of Cairo built opened—both Steamers quented wealth the Alexandria, the Few these Pillar, one other capital west Washington. ve els corn, Ohio Greek on presented Constantinople. all have ing Ptolemy the the however, of Alexandrian. occupied the Alexandrian schools proved soil fertile in doctrines and heresies to trouble early Church. Between theological and pol it i contentions the city suffered severely in years of the Empire, in 640 A.D. it was seized Amru, Omar’s lieutenant, burnt the library and everything per that bore witne to greatne . Two later the Turks masters of Egypt. final ruin of Alexandria completed by the dis of the Cape route the East at the end of fifteenth century. In Napoleonic era the and English fought severe battle close to its (1801), and in 1807 English occupied the THE ANCIENT PHAROS for a few months. ALEXANDRIA. Ali and his dynasty established in Egypt by a Convention in 1841. A few years later the adoption overland route to India restored some degree prosperity to the port, and in 1851 a railway was constructed. A new town sprang in European style, and a new harbour to the east of the ancient and trading ve els of all nations the place, which rapidly increased and population. In 1869 the completion Suez Canal injured irreparably the commerce and the bombardment of the forts British in 1882 reduced many buildings to ruins. monuments of antiquity remain. The chief are the Pillar of Diocletian, known as Pompey’s which stands to the west of the city, of the obelisks called Cleopatra’s Needles, having been removed to London.