Ancient Alexandria

Tuesday November  2 — Following a 3 hour drive from Cairo our first stop in Alexandria is at the Pompey’s Pillar.  This pillar sits on the site of a temple of Old Alexandria.  Alexander the Great invaded Egypt in 331 BC putting an end to the rule of Pharaohs. The Greeks, under Ptolemy I  built the city of Alexandria and the temple where the pillar is located. The Romans,  led by Pompey, invaded in 284 AD.  When Pompey died they buried his head in the temple and erected the Pillar over it as a peace offering to the city..  This temple also housed an underground library for religious documents and there was an underground sanctuary.

In 1901 a  farmer’s mule fell down a hole which led to the discovery of the Catacombs of Alexandria also called Kom Al-Shoqafa.  What was found originally was a private burial site for a rich merchant.  But as the city grew, the crypt was expanded.  So far they have discovered over 300 tombs but no bodies.  During the crusades in 1300’s the Christians cleared out the catacomb and burned all the bodies. The paintings and inscriptions show how Greek, Roman and Egyptian cultures were merging together. In one picture in the crypt you can see Roman pillars, Greek head of Medusa, Phoenician snake, and the Egyptian inubis and falcon.

Another accidental discovery is a Roman amphitheater that was uncovered when digging a foundation for a new building.  The theater itself was small but they also uncovered class rooms, evidence of a market area and a boulevard leading from the Sea to the city.

The fort, Qaitbay Citadel is built on the cite  of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was destroyed by the earthquake of 1392.  The fort does include stone from the lighthouse in its foundations. Not only did the fort house thousands of soldiers it had its own mosque, and holds two cisterns for fresh water.

When our trip leader, Ahmed, learned we had missed a planned food tour, he decided to take us on his own food tour and a walk around the shopping district.  We had tamerine,  juice aperitif, beef and chicken shawarma (an Egyptian burrito), and a dessert that I can’t spell but was made with lots of honey!!