The History of Architecture in Alexandria
Architecture and History
- Architecture reflects history
- Structures give a wonderful insight into life and culture of past and present
- Observing different architectural structures and studying their significance will help understand the history of Alexandria.
356 BC: Alexander the Great is Born
March 30 2015: Two policemen are injured in bombing
619-628 AD: Persian Invasion
- Founder of Alexandria
- Born in Macedon
- Entrusted the design and planning of Alexandria to Dinocrates, a Greek architect
415 AD: Murder of Hypatia of Alexandria
500 AD: Kom El Dikka is renovated
1987: Project to excavate, restore and preserve Anfushi begins
332 BC: The City of Alexandria is founded
- Alexandria is a natural harbour which is a great advantage!
48 BC: Beginning of civil wars from Caesar's conquest
313 AD: Edict of Milan
642 AD: Alexandria is captured by Arabians
32 BC: Suicide of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. End of the Ptolemaic period
285-246 BC: Ptolemy II Philadelpheus
246-221 BC: Ptolemy III Euergetes I
306-282 BC: Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemaic Period
Pharos: The Lighthouse of Alexandria
- One of the 7 wonders of the world, was commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter and designed by Sostratos of Cnidus (Greek)
- not a surviving structure
- "It's purpose is to provide a beacon for ships sailing by night and to warn them of shallows and to mark the entrance to the harbour" Pliny the Elder
- located on Pharos island off of Alexandria
- combines Egyptian and Hellenistic style: limestone 7marble, deities, design
- over 400ft high and triple tiered: 1st square, 2nd octogonal, 3rd circular
- revolutionary architecture style-became symbol of city
- lasted over 1000 years
Qa'it Bay Fortress
Bibliotheca Alexandria
Stanley Bridge
The Museum of Alexandria
- belonged to and controlled by the Ptolemies.
- Erastothanes, Hypatia, Aristarchus, Aristophanes...etc studied at the museum.
- modelled after a museion-shrine for muses-translates into the seat of the muses
- purpose: learning, promotes scholarly activity
- large complex containing lecture halls, observatories, a zoo, dining rooms (very much Greek, similar to today's universities)
- attracted people from all over the world to come study and live in Alexandria, increase in population
- mainly Hellenistic design, with some Egyptian architecture
- became symbol and value of city
- Commissioned by Mameluke Sultan Al-Ashraf al-Din Qa'it Bay
- 15th century fortress, Arabian conquest in Alexandria
- built on the Pharos' original location, ideal location
- guard citadel and trade routes belonging to Sultan
- Islamic fortification- 4 round corner turrets, large central square tower, box machiolations and gun loops
- compare with mosque structure
- The Islamic conquest left a huge imprint on Alexandria.
- Islamic style can be found throughout the city.
- Alexandrian multi-cultural characteristic
- Commissioned by Egyptian government in 21st century
- evidence of similar project in ancient times
- decrease traffic and widen corniche
- high density population-echo of Alexandria's history with so many people coming to study in museum and library, business from trade, glassmaking
- neo-Islamic towers
- traffic is an increasing problem in Alexandria
- incorporates tourist friendly beach
- built with a modern look to help beautify and strengthen the corniche one of Alexandria's strengths (has become a popular tourist attraction)
- " People admired the unique quality of Alexandria and it's melding of eastern and western cultures [...] Biblioteca Alexandria is a daring gamble to revive the unique intellectual culture that Alexandria once had." Seragelding, Ismael. Daily New Egypt
- commssioned by Egyptian government, 2002
- lifespan= 200years
- connected to a science museum and planetarium
- modern superstructure design
- built to accomodate many people
- provides resources both online and print for students
- designed to transfer irregular load of structure and pressure from tension zones underneath to support structures to hold it steady
- 40m away from the corniche
Serapeum
- Commissioned by Ptolemy I Soter, fostered the cult, designed by Permeniscus (Greek)
- Serapis: major cult in Alexandria, patron god of Ptolemies
- syncretism between Greek and Egyptian deities
- built on Acropolis of Alexandria with 100 steps (reverence for god and protection of city)
- temple style is greco-roman-egyptian
- greco-roman: hellenistic design, large courtyard with colonade (doric/ionic), actual temple building located within, pool within courtyard, made with marble and granite, large statue of deity in temple
- egyptian: necropolis for sacred Apis Bulls, egyptian design, small windown so statue is kissed by sun god
Pompey's Pillar
- Actually = built in honour of emperor Diocletian not general Pompey
- located in the Serapeum's courtyard
- Corinthian design
- flanked by two sphinx (Egyptian)
- greco-egyptian tribute to Diocletian
- made of red granite from Aswan, Upper Egypt
- with temple for gods because common belief of Egyptians and Greco-Romans that kings/emperors are gods on earth
- used as a landmark for the Acropolis
Kom El Dikka: Amphitheatre
- comissioned 1st or 2nd Ptolemaic ruler
- used for a long time- greek amphitheatre to roman odium
- typical amphitheatre: flate centre stage surrounded 3/4 by raised rows, ascending steps between rows
- mainly Greco-Roman architecture
- made of limestone and white marble, red granite
- small (13 rows only) private like-most likely for council meetings, private theatre, lecture hall
- purpose unknown
- Corinthian capitals on pillars and edges along with niches were added
- dome supported by white marbled pillars
- Kom El Dikka is an example of Greek and Roman life within the conquered city of their empire
Kom El Shugafa
- early Ptolemaic period
- one of the largest burial places
- greco-roman-egyptian architecture
- expansion into a large complex with 3 levels with triclinium-funerary banquets and multi chambers
- chambers framed by pillars with both egyptian and greco-roman design
- example: ionc doric top but base is egyptian
- rotunda within the complex
- hall of Caracalla-Christian massacare, however it is not proven
- syncretism between egyptians and greek (both respect dead)
Anfushi
- during or after construction of pharos
- built for island of pharos
- hypogeum show different kind of people from different religions buried
- greco-egyptian architecture
- doric and ionic sculpting
- oikos: chambers in linear formation with niches on either side (greco-roman)
- architectonic designs
- egyptian stylized but influence by greco-roman