I'm nearly finished reading a delightful book about one of my favorite subjects: The famous city of Alexandria in Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great during his conquest of the eastern world in the 4th century BC, Alexandria quickly became the center of world culture.
Perfectly located at the crossroads of the East (Egypt, Palestine, Persia, Asia Minor) and the West (Greece, Rome), Alexandria became the economic port-of-choice for maritime traders. Such trade, coupled with Egypt's unmatched ability to grow vast amounts of grain, brought vast wealth to the Ptolemies, the ruling family of Egypt who inherited the kingdom from Alexander the Great.
Ptolemy I, one of Alexander's generals and confidants, had a far-reaching vision for Alexandria, the pearl of his new Egyptian kingdom. Ptolemy was to use his new wealth to forge Alexandria into the world center of culture, study, philosophy and invention for the next several centuries. Recruiting the greatest thinkers of his time, Ptolemy anchored Alexandria with two new structures, the likes of which the world has never seen: The Museum, the center of study, debate, and learning; and the great Library, repository of the world's written knowledge up until that time.
Alexandria at one time or another became home for some of the ancient world's greatest minds, including Aristarchus, Archimedes, Hero, Eratosthenes and Athanasius.
The book is written largely for the lay reader, without any previous knowledge of the subjects required.
As for myself, all I can think of is why didn't my wife and I visit Alexandria during our 2006 trip to Egypt?
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