Few cities have made so magnificent an entry into history as Alexandria. She was founded by Alexander the Great.

Now off Egypt,

About as far as a ship can sail in a day

With a good stiff breeze behind her

There is an island called Pharos

It has a good harbour

From which vessels can get out into open sea

When they have taken in water

Long before Alexander the Great visited the site of Alexandria, Homer wrote the above paragraph in his Odyssey. Only remains of the prehistoric harbor have been found off the shores of the island of Pharos, now the peninsula of Ras-El-Tin.

Opposite of Pharos, on Egypt mainland, was a small village centered around the area where "Pompey's Pillar" now stands. It was called Rhakotis. Archeological evidence suggests that it existed as long ago as the 13th Century BC. Because the Ancient Egyptian civilization thrived mainly along the Nile River, very little is known about both Pharos and Rhakotis at that time. Was it a strategic defense base to repel raiders from the West? Was it an important city during the reign of the XXXth Dynasty where King Nectanebo II was planning to be burried? Probably throughout most of its ancient history, Rhakotis was merely a fishing village

Then came Alexander the Great

When he reached Memphis in Egypt, he was welcome by the people who hated Persian rule. He was twenty five years old. Yet, he was King of Macedon. He was the hailed conqueror who started a long journey through Greece, Asia Minor, and Syria, sweeping both Greek and the Persian forces on his way. He had plans for a longer journey to Persia, Central Asia, and India. But first, he had to visit the Oasis of Siwa to consult the Oracle of Amun.

While on his way, Alexander admired that stretch of land between the Mediterranean Sea and lake Mareotis, and the nearby island.

He ordered a city to be founded there in order to serve as a regional capital. The location was ideal for it was intermediate between Greece across the Mediterranean and the rest of Egypt.

At that time, the Nile was connected to the Red Sea through a canal, and Alexandria could serve as a gateway to the Indian Ocean. The city plan was designed by the Greek architect Dinocrates. The city walls outline was marked by Alexander himself.

Egypt's new capital was born April 7, 331 BC. She was named after Alexander, yet he never saw a single building rise there. Only after his death, had he returned to her to be burried.

Planning of Alexandria:

Designed by the Greek architect Dinocrates, the city plan (see historical map) was not creative, yet it was practical. Like most ancient Greek cities, the plan consisted of orhtogonal streets, with the sea being the main landscaping element.

The main street, the "Canopic" (now Fouad Street) connected the Gate of the Moon to the West with the Gate of the Sun to the East. It then extended eastward, along a possibly ancient road, up to Canopus (now Abou Qir). Orhtogonal to the "Canopic", was the "Street of the Soma" (now Nebi Daniel Street). The intersection known as the Soma was the city center, and is believed to be Alexander's burial place.

The Heptastadion (seven stades long) dyke was built to connect the Island of Pharos with Alexandria. Initially, it was merely a narrow structure, but later silted and formed the land area now occupied by Mansheya neighborhood.