THE PORT OF EGYPT.
Alexandria has aptly been called the "doorway of Africa," for it is the
port through which the continent has been entered for centuries.
Leaving Europe on a luxurious steamer, and possessing the necessary
passport, we shall find the port of Alexandria an easy step from the
comforts of European life to the picturesque features of that in Africa.
As we view the city of Alexandria from the harbor, it does not present a
specially imposing appearance. Built upon a level plain it offers no
great attraction to the eye, unless it be a double row of windmills,
which stretch to either hand. Looking either to the right or left as far
as the eye can distinguish them, they may be seen diminishing in the
perspective of the dim distance, and ceaselessly turning.
In strong contrast to these humble sentinels rises an imposing column, a
relic of old Roman days. Still there is little to indicate the former
grandeur of the famed city whose ancient glories have disappeared.
The modern city of Alexandria does not occupy the exact site of the
ancient one, but in a great measure is built upon the mole,
Heptastadium. This, by means of alluvial deposits, has broadened into
quite an extensive neck of land between the two harbors.
The eastern harbor is called the New Port; the western is spoken of as
the Old Port. All the largest steamers enter the eastern harbor; hence
the stranger from a European port first steps foot upon African soil at
the eastern quay.
In no way can the modern city be said to bear any resemblance to the old
city; nor has there been any attempt to reproduce the grandeur of the
ancient one. It has, in fact, an entirely different character. The
Alexandria which endeared itself to the Greeks and Romans was a city
rich in its treasures of literature and philosophy. The modern one, on
the contrary, was designed for, and is devoted to, the interests of
commerce.
The ancient city was founded by Alexander the Great in the year 332 B.C.
Its original situation was on the low stretch of land separating the
lake Mareotis from the Mediterranean Sea.
Just in front of the city, in the Mediterranean Sea, was the island of
Pharos. Upon the northeast corner of this island stood the lighthouse,
famous in history, which was constructed by a noted architect at the
command of Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Tradition tells us that the architect when building the lighthouse cut
his own name in the stone foundations, which he covered with concrete.
He then carved the name of his royal master in the more perishable
portion of the structure, trusting that as the years rolled by Old
Ocean and Father Time would reveal the name of the true builder. Thus
would his name become known to fame, and not only appeal to the eyes of
the people, but live on in their memories.
The island of Pharos had connection with the mainland by means of the
mole Heptastadium, named from its great length the "Seven Furlong" mole.
Thus the two harbors were formed.
The entire length of the original city is said to have been about four
miles, while its circumference was not less than fifteen miles.
Two main streets ran straight through the ancient city. These crossed at
right angles in the heart of it. The streets were well built and were
adorned with colonnades throughout their entire length.
The most beautiful section of the city had a situation upon the eastern
harbor; here were located the palaces of the Ptolemies, and the museum
and ancient library. Here, too, stood the Soma, or Mausoleum, of
Alexander the Great and of the Ptolemies, and the imposing theater of
the city.
A little farther to the west was the emporium, or exchange. Rhacotis, or
the Egyptian quarter, was in the western section of the city. It
contained the temple of Serapis.
Just at the west of the city was the great Necropolis. To the east lay
the race course. Just beyond it was the suburban district of Nicopolis.
Most of the houses in ancient Alexandria had spaces under them. In these
were built vaulted underground cisterns, which were capable of holding
water enough to supply the wants of the whole city for an entire year.
From its earliest history Alexandria was the "Greek capital of Egypt."
We are told that at the time of its greatest prosperity it contained
about three hundred thousand free citizens. This did not include the
slaves and strangers, who must have doubled the number of the people.
The population, for the most part, consisted of Greeks, Jews, and
Egyptians, with settlers, probably, from all nations of the then known
world.
On the death of Alexander the Great the city became the residence of the
Ptolemies. Under their reign it became the most magnificent city of
antiquity except Rome and Antioch. In addition it became the center of
learning and Greek literature, while its influence spread over a large
portion of the Old World.
The situation of the city was most favorable for its prosperity. The
connecting link, as it were, between the East and the West, it soon
became the great commercial center of the world.
About 30 B.C., when the Romans took possession of it, it had reached the
pinnacle of its glory. From the time of this conquest its prosperity was
on the wane. Little by little the influence of the invader was felt. The
removal of all works of art to Rome was the death-blow to the prosperity
of which Alexandria had been so proud.
Then followed frightful massacres, the laying in waste of the most
beautiful portion of the city, the siege and pillage of the now doomed
capital, and finally the increasing prosperity of its rival, the city
of Constantinople.
Thus did circumstances rapidly combine to destroy Alexandria. In the
fourteenth century, all that remained of its former splendor of
buildings was the temple of Serapis.
Soon the strife between Christianity and heathenism arose. The final
victory was gained in 389 A.D., when the only remaining seat of heathen
theology was stormed by a body of Christians and speedily turned into a
place of worship.
Thus ended heathenism in Alexandria. It became the great center of
Christian faith and theology, and nothing marred its prosperity till it
was taken by the Arabs 638 A.D.. The conquest by the Turks completed the
destruction of the city 868 A.D.
True, under the Egyptian califs its prosperity revived somewhat; for,
under them, it remained the chief commercial center between the east and
the west.
The discovery of America, and the existence of a passage to India by way
of the Cape of Good Hope, had a most disastrous effect on the trade of
Alexandria, and reduced it to very small proportions compared with that
of former days.
Under the dominion of the Mamelukes the city suffered still farther
reverses. The conquest of the Osmanli followed this dominion, and
destroyed such little prosperity as the Arabs had succeeded in
restoring. The effect of these constant changes was such, that in 1778
A.D. there were but about six thousand inhabitants in the whole city.
At the close of the eighteenth century Egypt was conquered by the
French, and this had the effect of reviving the prosperity of her long
suffering port.
Under Mehemit Ali, who had his home there for a portion of the year, the
city prospered to such an extent that it soon attained the reputation of
being one of the chief commercial cities on the Mediterranean Sea.
Through the influence of steam navigation it has, as of old, become the
medium of communication between Europe and the East Indies. It is
connected with Cairo by means of a canal which was constructed somewhere
between the years 1818 and 1820. It is also connected by railway with
Suez. Until quite recently, all passengers and freight for India went by
the way of Suez.
The population of Alexandria is somewhat mixed, for it consists of
Arabians, Turks, Copts, Jews, Greeks, and French.
Ancient Alexandria is associated in history with Julius Caesar, who, 48
B.C., went there to intercede in the dispute over the rightful successor
to the Egyptian throne at the death of Ptolemy Auletes. According to the
will of the late ruler, his daughter Cleopatra and her husband Ptolemy
Dionysus should have succeeded to the throne.
In consequence of the dispute as to the rightful successor, the
Alexandrian War followed. Ptolemy Dionysus was slain, and Cleopatra,
after much delay, finally took possession of the throne.
The beauty and power, the extravagance and arrogance of Cleopatra have
formed the subject for many a painter, the theme for many a poet and
historian.