Where is Alexandria, the city founded by Alexander the Great and why was it the cultural center of the world?

Wrapped up in the legend of Alexander the Great are milestones such as the conquest of the Persian Empire, one of the largest and most powerful of its time and the expansion of his minor kingdom’s territory. It eventually stretched from his homeland of Macedonia to northern India, occupying a large part of Europe and Asia, under his command. The reign of Alexander the Great was brief but it helped him form one of the most extensive empires in history, and along the way he found many cities.

After conquering Egypt, Alexander the Great founded what would become perhaps the most famous city within the lands that he conquered. This is Alexandria, whose name refers to the emperor himself and where his remains rested for some years under the direction of his faithful friend and general Ptolemy I. For years it was one of the most important cities in the world at a cultural level, and which today is the second most important city in Egypt after the capital, Cairo.

Where is Alexandria?

Alexandria is a city located in the north of Egypt, in the westernmost area of the Nile Delta and is the main port of the country. It was founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, and grew quickly becoming the cultural center of the ancient world.

To this day, Alexandria is a very important enclave in Egypt, not only because, as already mentioned, it is the country’s main port, but also because of the history and cultural heritage that accompanies it. Furthermore, this city is the main focus of research trying to find the tomb of Alexander the Great. After finding historical and current evidence that it could be hidden among the remains of the ancient city, archaeologists and historians think that they are closer to solving one of the great mysteries in the history of humanity.

Why was Alexandria the cultural center of the world?

Shortly after its founding, Alexandria became the center of Greek culture in the Hellenistic era, but it did not put an end to Egyptian culture. The juxtaposition of both civilizations led to Alexander’s city becoming a great attraction, with its mostly Egyptian art and architecture but the Hellenization of the upper echelons of society.

Another of the important factors that caused this city to be a cultural center of such importance was the construction of the Library of Alexandria, one of the largest and most prestigious of the time, established in the 3rd century BC. and which was the largest center for the dissemination of knowledge of antiquity.

Years later, clashes within the Ptolemaic dynasty and the arrival of the Romans, Alexandria became the center of battles that laid waste to much of the historical and cultural heritage of this city. That included its great library in 48 AD when Julius Caesar ordered the fleet of Egyptian boats blocking the harbor of Alexandria be burned according to Plutarch. However, in destroying the fleet the flames spread to the city and the library. As well, major earthquakes and tsunamis took their toll on the costal city finally irreparably damaging its lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.