A Brief History of Ancient Alexandria: Its Architecture and Urban Planning

Rendition of the Lighthouse in the Ancient City of Alexandria

A Brief History of Ancient Alexandria: Its Architecture and Urban Planning

Alexandria, a city that reshaped history, was a beacon of intellectual progress in the ancient world. It was conceived with the idea that knowledge, wisdom, and culture were paramount to the city's vitality. Alexandria developed a unique identity deeply rooted in the written word, fostering an environment where knowledge was valued and rewarded. This led to the creation of one of the most revered cities in human history, rivaling the likes of ancient Athens and Rome.

The Founding of Alexandria

The founding of Alexandria can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosophers. The first known moral philosopher in ancient Greece was Socrates. Plato, a student of Socrates, opened the Platonic Academy in Athens as an institution to continue teaching philosophy to students. One of Plato's students was Aristotle, a young boy who attended Plato's academy for nearly two decades.

As a friend of King Philip II, Aristotle tutored Philip's son, Alexander. Aristotle personally tutored Alexander and steeped the young prince in a wide array of knowledge and wisdom. One of the central ideas that Aristotle taught Alexander was the concept of arete or the pursuit of excellence. This philosophical concept, which emphasizes the development of one's full potential and the striving for moral virtue, was a guiding principle in the creation of the Library of Alexandria. This would be achieved through intense study, contemplation, and reflection. Aristotle taught Alexander how to read and write in various languages, including Greek, Babylonia, Hebrew, and Latin. They covered astronomy, ethics, geography, medicine, metaphysics, politics, and literature. Aristotle became a father figure for Alexander. Alexander was passionate about the Homeric Epics, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. These stories' characters, places, and events would play a significant role in Alexander's life. Alexander became part of a lineage of some of the best Greek thinkers and philosophers. However, he would grow to pursue a path very different from his predecessors.

The Planning Myth of Alexandria

Alexander became one of the most notable figures in ancient history. He set out on a journey to expand the Macedonian empire. Beginning in Greece, he traveled nearly 22,000 miles, conquering Persia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and parts of India. His conquests were not just about territorial expansion but also about spreading Greek culture and knowledge. This vision was particularly evident in his founding of the city of Alexandria.

He knew that taking control of Egypt was critical to fulfilling his dream of conquering the known world. The Persians had recently taken over Egypt. Shortly after the Persian takeover, Alexander invaded Egypt. Eager to escape Persian rule, many Egyptians welcomed Alexander, as they viewed him as a liberator from Persian rule rather than a conqueror.

In 331 BCE, Alexander set off for the island of Pharos in Egypt. Pharos was a mythical island he had read about in the Homeric Epics and dreamed about visiting one day. This little island and the surrounding mainland villages would eventually evolve into the city of Alexandria. This area is west of the Nile Delta, where the Nile River spreads out and empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

Upon reaching Pharos, Alexander astutely identified the area's geographical advantages and its potential to become a strategic location for his empire. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia, the natural coastline was rocky, with the sea to its north and a large freshwater lake to the south. A stretch of land between the sea and the lake had nurtured small Egyptian fishing villages for centuries. The lake, then known as Mareotis, was significantly larger than it is today, and was a key resource. The area had access to the Nile River Delta, yet was out of range of the annual floods. A network of canals linked the lake, sea, and river together.

The area also had natural resources that could facilitate the city's growth and pursuit of intellectual activities. The papyrus plant was plentiful in the region. People used the plant to construct buildings and everyday objects, as a food source, and most importantly, as a writing surface. The abundance of papyrus in the region was a key factor in establishing the Library of Alexandria, as it provided a readily available and durable material for writing and preserving knowledge. This native plant would play a significant role in establishing Alexandria as a center for knowledge and information.

From his education and experience, Alexander recognized the rare confluence of advantageous features this area had. He believed the city would bring Hellenistic influence closer to Egypt and the rest of the world. Alexander envisioned this area growing into a prosperous cosmopolitan city. It was to be a melting pot of cultures where knowledge, wisdom, and information were paramount. He intended the polis to be based on the idea that it could synthesize different cultures, traditions, and belief systems. This was a radical endeavor at the time, a testament to his vision of a city that embraced diversity and inclusivity.

Upon his arrival, Alexander wasted no time in shaping his vision into reality. He ordered the construction of a link or bridge connecting the mainland to the island of Pharos, creating two harbors for the city. The story continues with Alexander bending down into the dirt and drawing the city's layout in the sand. He meticulously drew the streets angled to take advantage of the natural breezes and wide enough to allow eight lanes of horses to pass through. Locations for markets and temples dedicated to Greek and Egyptian gods were also defined. One of the key buildings he drew was the Library, which would become the Library of Alexandria. His training and influence from Aristotle were clear in his vision for the new city.

Construction began in 331 BCE; however, Alexander did not stay to see his idealistic city come to fruition. Shortly after giving orders on the design and layout, he headed southwest to the isolated Siwa Oasis in the middle of the desert to continue his journey to conquer the known world.

He assigned the task of developing his city to Cleomenes of Naucratis and the city's design to the well-known architect Dinocrates of Rhodes. In the design and planning of the town, there was a desire for formality in Alexandria: grid streets and an organized urban layout divided into various zones.

Death of Alexander and the Rise of the Ptolemies

Credit for establishing and developing the vision for the city of Alexandria is often entirely attributed to Alexander himself. One of the figures and families frequently left out of the conversation is Ptolemy and his family of successors. Ptolemy was a general in Alexander's army. He was one of Alexander's closest friends and allies. When Alexander died, the territories in Egypt were divided among several generals, with Ptolemy becoming the governor of Egypt. To further legitimize his power and position, Ptolemy organized for Alexander's body to be brought back to Egypt and put to rest in Alexandria.

Once buried in Alexandria, Ptolemy established the line of power and direct relationship between himself and his territories directly to Alexander the Great, cementing his place as the ruler of Egypt.

Once Ptolemy established his rule in Alexandria, he began developing the city. Ptolemy commissioned the city's most iconic structures, including the Library, Lighthouse, Alexander's Tomb, and the Museum that accompanied the Library, along with many temples and public spaces. Ptolemy also commissioned a garden space called Eleusis, which is still used in the modern city.

Ptolemy and his team used giant sheets of papyrus to draft the plans for the town. They planned buildings, statues, temples, and infrastructure. The tomb of Alexander was to be a critical monument at the center of the city. Today, we still do not know precisely where Alexander the Great's resting place is. The ancient city lies beneath the modern city, so excavating and investigating the ancient ruins would be incredibly disruptive and costly. The aura of mystery this adds to the city is intoxicating, and many tourists and enthusiasts visit the site every year.

Public parks, temples, palaces, and grand streets were planned in the city. On the east side was the Gate to the Sun, and to the west was the Gate to the Moon. These two features were connected by a long direct boulevard called the Canopic Way. A long procession of marble colonnades and adorned marble building facades flanked this processional boulevard. A park called the Park of Pan was designed into the city layout. It was a pleasure garden with an amphitheater and a public bath.

The first three generations of Ptolemies were key in advocating and facilitating the growth and building of the city. Together, these three rulers laid the groundwork for Alexandria and built much of the ancient city. When Ptolemy III came to power, he would construct additional temples to reaffirm their position as the Egyptian Pharaoh. During the first three Ptolemies, the city established a culture unique from its Grecian or Egyptian roots. This time's economic and cultural growth yielded art, architecture, and an intellectual milieu that made the city an icon truly unique.

Alexandria became one of the world's busiest ports, opening Egypt to the rest of the world. It became Egypt's largest city, with a population of nearly 300,000 people. Alexandria was exotic, eclectic, and intoxicating. It was the most modern city the world had ever seen.

The Lighthouse

A towering lighthouse would be built on the island of Pharos, where Alexander had arrived initially, before the area was much more than a few small fishing villages. It would be the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world and maintain its position as the tallest structure in the known world for centuries.

Alexandria became a significant trade partner as it grew, especially with Rome. It exported large amounts of wheat, wine, olives, homeware, textiles, and papyrus. Ships regularly entered and exited the two harbors at Alexandria.

The lighthouse helped ships navigate the coastline. Because the northern coast of Egypt was relatively homogenous and lacked defining landscape features if viewed from offshore, a large lighthouse became very useful for identifying the city. Construction of the lighthouse began between 300 and 282 BC.

The lighthouse was the work of the first two Ptolemies. The structure is estimated to have risen 117 to 135 meters tall. It was constructed of white limestone that reflected sunlight. Three stacked tiers, tapering in size to the top, were the defining architectural features of the structure. It sat on a cylindrical plinth. A statue of Zeus stood at the top of the lighthouse. A mirror reflecting the light was the guiding beacon that helped safely bring ships into the harbor.

The lighthouse was functional, but perhaps more enduring was its role as a form of architectural iconography. It was a symbol of light, of knowledge being disseminated from the city. The lighthouse was a sign of a futuristic city founded on a new set of values. Islam Issa states that "Alexandria was something of a New York, the Pharos Lighthouse its Lady Liberty." (Issa, 87)

There is no Ptolemaic architecture still standing in Alexandria today. However, we do have fragments and ruins that suggest a hybrid of Greek and Egyptian architectural language. To understand what this architecture looked like, it is best to travel to parts of the world that replicated Alexandrian architecture, such as Rome. In Jerusalem, we can see doors on the Temple that are believed to have been constructed in Alexandria using their vernacular style.

After seven centuries of operation and seventeen in disrepair, the lighthouse was finally destroyed in the fourteenth century, and its remains were used to construct a citadel. Today, the symbol of the lighthouse remains intact in the minds of the citizens of Alexandria. It also remains alive on the city's emblem and flag.

The Library and Museum

When Alexander first founded the city, he envisioned the Library and accompanying museum as one of the key features. When Ptolemy began to execute Alexander's vision, he directed an architect named Demetrius to begin designing and constructing the Library, which was to be the city's intellectual center. It would symbolize Alexandria's values and give the town an identity as the center of knowledge of the known world. Demetrius was given the funds and directed to collect "all the books in the world."

The Library was not linked to a specific religion, study area, or philosophical doctrine. It did not segregate which type of information was within the Library. This underscores the library's role in promoting an open, accepting, and cosmopolitan society. It signifies a shift and, in many ways, an awakening or a more evolved consciousness with a mature understanding of the world's diversity and richness.

The Library and the museum were conceived and built together as interrelated and complementary structures that collectively facilitated the city's knowledge growth. Unfortunately, few sources describe the library's architectural features, making the building difficult to envision. However, as mentioned above, based on other fragments of ruins discovered and our knowledge of the city, it is reasonable to infer that the Library was a hybrid of Greek and Egyptian architectural languages. It most likely had large columns, porticos, and pediments built from stone or brick. The complex included lecture halls, theaters, private study rooms, banquet rooms, and outdoor areas for seating, study, and discussion.

The Library contained scrolls instead of books, as books formatted as we see them today were not invented until several centuries later. The scrolls were organized and cataloged in the Library with clay labels, and all books were to be cataloged regardless of their civilization, culture, or religion of origin.

As the Library grew, it became the premier research institute in the world. Scholars began flocking to the city to participate in the fury of intellectual discourse. Alexandria was to become the city with some of the world's largest depositories of written works and a scholarly and research hotspot. Due to the environment and culture that the Library generated, significant advancements were made in mathematics, science, agriculture, astronomy, biology, geography, and philosophy.

To advance scholars' progress, the city exempted them from taxes if they engaged in and contributed to study at the Library and museum. The citizens of Alexandria were peeved by this and found it unfair that they were granted all kinds of privileges and exemptions along with academic freedom to pursue the topics of their choice.

The activities facilitated by the Library and Museum "could transform civilization into the next age of modernity and, most importantly, asked and sought to answer humanity's grandest questions about life." (Issa (106)

The creation of the Library signified a significant shift in human history. Many larger shifts, such as the Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Industrial Revolution, would follow this movement.

Alexandria maintained its position as an intellectual nucleus; however, slowly, through fires, conflict, and weathering, the city's Library began to decay. In AD 365, the town was consumed by a tsunami initiated by an underwater earthquake.

Today's most common topic of interest related to the Library is the mystery of its destruction and the lost texts. While interesting, current research suggests that the destruction of the Library may not have been a single dramatic event, as is often portrayed in popular culture. Instead, it seems more likely that the Library slowly decayed with a series of smaller events that eventually led to its abandonment, decommissioning, and eventual decay.

The Library's Relevance Today

Studying the city of Ancient Alexandria and its prominent architectural monuments prompts us to question whether our contemporary cities and architecture positively contribute to our society's development and evolution. Through Alexandria, we can see how a city and its buildings initiated a historical shift, illustrating that an unbiased depository of information and knowledge could become a source of power, economic vitality, and cultural identity. What is the capacity of our contemporary cities to assist in the positive development of our culture and evolution?

Bibliography:

Issa, Islam. Alexandria. Simon and Schuster, 2 Jan. 2024.

Macleod, Roy M. The Library of Alexandria: Centre of Learning in the Ancient World. London; New York, I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd, New York, 2014.

Wilson, Ben. METROPOLIS : A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention. S.L., Anchor, 2021.