Introduction
Alexandria was one of the most important cities of the ancient world. The city was the largest in contemporary Egypt and deserved to be the capital of the nation which it remained for a long time. This paper thoroughly discusses city of Alexandria in the view of urban planning and several other related aspects of the subject matter.
Urban planning is an effective tool to achieve a number of social as well as economic objectives in modern world. In earlier times, it used be equally important for the military purposes. Aristotle extensively talks about urban planning in his book, ‘Politics’. He writes
“The arrangement of private houses is considered to be more agreeable and generally more convenient, if the streets are regularly laid out after the modern fashion which Hippodamus introduced, but for security in war the antiquated mode of building which made it difficult for the strangers to get out of a town and for assailants to find their way in, is preferable”.1
Thesis statement
This paper intends to discuss urban biography and the city that has to be examined in the view of urban biography is the ancient city of Alexandria.
Topographic structure of Alexandria
The city of Alexandria was founded by the great Alexander in circa 331 BC after taking its control from the hands of Persians. The city was built on a narrow piece of land that divides Mediterranean from the Lake Mareotis. This is a T shaped neck of land that structures harbors from east as well from the west. This location was strategically selected and due to its topography as well as man- made facilities, the city of Alexandria emerged as a trade- commerce crossroad between eastern and western parts of the world.2 The city of Alexandria is said to be designed by Dinocrates who was Alexander’s personal architect. Within a very short time of its establishment, Alexandria became one of the most splendorous cities of the world. People called it heaven. The importance of Alexandria was recognized by everyone who existed in the contemporary world right from traders, philosophers, tourists, statesmen, and other travelers.3 Michael wood remembers Alexandria as the first city of the cultured world in grace, assets, and lavishness, where everything imaginable to please body and mind was available.
Demographic structure of Alexandria
The Alexandria turned out to be the best example of Hellenic architecture and urban planning. The city was divided into mainly three parts with a multi ethnic general population. Alexandria’s northeast part was the Jew’s district while on the west of the city was Rhactis district which was territory of Egyptians. Brucheum the royal was the most splendid part of the Alexandria with almost total population of Greeks and was positioned in close proximity to royal palaces. Brucheum was extended in the later period to adjust more people. The district was well planned in a strategic manner with framework of analogous streets. Deep and Covered Canals were made for the proper drainage and sanitation. The urban planning of Alexandria was the best in the ancient world and other cities followed the urban planning of Alexandria. The well defined pattern that we see in the Alexandria was rare to see anywhere else in the ancient world.4
Journey of Alexandria
The city of Alexandria flourished under the Hellenistic rule and emerged as the greatest centre of culture, education, trade, and economy.5 In circa 30 BC, Alexandria became a part of Roman Empire. The city was the greatest among all roman provinces having a population of almost 300000 (Vrettos). In circa 391 AD, Theodosius I ravaged several monuments including pagan temples. Alexandria competed with Rome and Constantinople for the supremacy in Christian learning under the roman rule as well as in the era of Byzantine Empire. Arabs attacked and captured Alexandria in 642 and the city started moving towards the period of downfall mainly because of its separation from world trade. Cairo became new capital of Egypt in 969 and the glory of Alexandria continued deteriorating (Vrettos). Gradually in the mid of 14th century the Alexandria lost its premium status that it used to hold during the ancient times. Currently Alexandria is second largest Egyptian city with more than 4 million people. It is also largest sea port of the Egypt and serves more than eighty percent exports and imports of the country. Alexandria continues to be a tourist hot spot and still holds its significance in the trade and commerce.6
The topography of Alexandria was strategically very good and it was seen by Alexander the great who made this city most famous in the ancient world. All other contemporary cities sensed the lack of a ruler like Alexander and location like Alexandria. Cultural and other activities helped the city a lot in the gaining fame different parts of the world.
The library of Alexandria
Alexandria was a cosmopolitan city of ancient times in a true sense. It was also the greatest center of education and knowledge in ancient world. Library of Alexandria is said to be the first universal library of ancient world and attracted all the contemporary philosophers and scholars. Some of such scholars are Euclid, who invented geometry, Eratosthenes, the eminent scholar who calculated the perimeter of the earth, Herophilus, the eminent scholar who recognized the rules of composition and physiology and Claudius Ptolemateus, the scholar who founded cartography (MacLeod). Some of these scholars and philosophers used to reside close to king of Alexandria who used to call these scholars whenever they required their advice.
The library of Alexandria used to contain more than 40000 works which were printed on papyrus scrolls (MacLeod). Rulers planned to make this library a complete universal place of education and learning. The library included multiple buildings and books were kept in different especially designed depositories to keep them safe. Different building with different names like mother’s library and daughter’s library were made for research and study purpose. A number of halls were built for the seminar and conference purpose and this library was located amid beautiful garden. The extraordinary Alexandrian library was destroyed when Julius Caesar accidentally set the library at fire during his visit to library (MacLeod). The Alexandrian library was a place to cure souls. It is said that when spirit of Aristotle was transplanted to the soil of Alexandria by Demetrius, he was advised to build a community of learned men. The library was built with the purpose of spread education and to prepare an educated community.7
The Pharos Lighthouse
The lighthouse was considered as seventh wonder of ancient times. Ptolemy first ordered its construction but died before its completion and it was completed by his son, Ptolemy second. To reach lighthouse from Alexandria’s harbor, one had to pass through the stretch that approx 4 kilometer long and used to connect the city and pharos island. This was the tallest tower of the earth in cotemporary world and was built to ensure a secure return for travelers to the harbor. This three tire lighthouse was 117 meter high and was visible from 100 miles (Historical and Genealogi). The lighthouse started corroding in lack of maintenance and finally collapsed in the mid of fourteenth century.8
Other monuments of Alexandria
The royal palaces of Alexandria, the great theatre which was later used by Caesar as fortress, the Poseidon, a temple belonged to the god of sea, the emporium, the naval docks, the Saturn temple, the gymnasium, the Alexandrian mausoleum, and the serapeum temple of Alexandria were major centers of attraction in the city of Alexandria. These monuments proved the excellence of Alexandrian art and architecture in the rest of the world and made other countries to follow the Alexandrian path.
Conclusion
After having observed the abovementioned detailed analysis of the urban biography of Alexandria, it is good to say that the city was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. It was a cosmopolitan city in real sense and attracted people from across the world. The city was planned in a well defined pattern and its planning as well as architecture was the best among the contemporary cities of ancient world. The city was full of splendid facilities, luxurious lifestyle, intellectual atmosphere and facilities. A number of other remarkable monuments gave the city of Alexandria a new identity and attracted a number of tourists and travelers. The trade and commerce was flourishing and people were rich enough to enjoy their lives.
Works Cited
Aristotle. Politics. Digireads.com Publishing, 2009.
Campbell County Historical and Genealogi. Alexandria. San Fracisco: Arcadia Publishing, 2008.
Fraser, P.M. Ptolemic Alexandria. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1972.
Frazee, Charles A. World History the Easy Way: Ancient and Medieval Times to A.D. 1500. New York: Barron's Educational Series, 1997.
Haas, Christopher. Alexandria in Late Antiquity: Topography and Social Conflict. Balumore, Maryland: JHU Press, 1997.
MacLeod, Roy. The Library of Alexandria: Centre of Learning in the Ancient World. New York: I.B.Tauris, 2005.
Plutarch. The Age of Alexander. London: Penguin Books Ltd., 1973.
Vrettos, Theodore. Alexandria: City of the Western Mind. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001.
