Alexandria : where Legends Monuments, and Maritime History meet

Introduction-The city between
Sea and story,

Alexandria is not just a coastal destination; it is a living narrative shaped by waves, empires, and imagination. Founded in 331 BCE by Alexander the Great.    

Why Alexander the Great chose Alexandria -Strategy, Vision, and Legend 

 When Alexander arrived in Egypt in 331BCE , he wasn't merely conquering territory; he was designing a legacy. Unlike many rulers who built cities at random or out of convenience, Alexander chose the location of Alexandria with remarkable strategic intelligence. According to ancient historians, he personally surveyed Egypt's northern coast and selected a narrow strip of land between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mareotis. This site offered something rare in the ancient world: a  perfect balance between natural beauty, military defense, and commercial advantage

• Strategic genius behind the choice

Alexander understood geography as a weapon; the location selected provided:

1. Natural harbors are protected from strong  waves
2. Access to the Nile trade routes via canals.
3. Defensive advantages against land invasions
4. Direct maritime connection to Greece and the Mediterranean world.

This meant the city could become not just a settlement, but a global hub of trade, culture, and power . Few cities in antiquity were planned with such foresight before construction even began.

Ancient writers say that Alexander himself marked the city’s layouthimself. One famous story claims he used flour to outline the city plan on the ground when chalk was unavailable. Birds later ate the flour lines, which priests interpreted as a good omen – meaning the city would feed the world. Whether literal or symbolic, the story reflects the belief that Alexandria’s destiny was prosperity.

• The Beauty That Captured Alexander

Historical accounts suggest Alexander was captivated not only by the site's strategy, but also by its beauty. This coastline stretched in a graceful arc, with turquoise water meeting golden sand, and a constant Mediterranean breeze cooling the air. The nearby island of Pharos stood like a natural guardian at the harbor's entrance, as if nature itself had prepared the land for a great city.

Unlike inland capital surrounded by desert, this felt place felt open, luminous, and alive. Sunlight reflected off the sea, ships moved across the horizon, and fertile land lay just beyond; to a ruler dreaming of an eternal empire, it must have seemed like a location chosen by destiny rather than chance.

Alexander didn’t intend Alexandria to be just  Egyptian or Greek. His goal was revolutionary for the ancient world: a cosmopolitan city where cultures would merge. He imagined the future of Greeks, Egyptians, Jews, and traders from across the Mediterranean living and working together. This idea later became reality,as Alexandria grew into one of the most diverse and intellectual cities in history, home to scholars, Philosophers, scientists, and sailors.

The city’s famous grid plan, wide streets, royal quarter, and great harbor were designed according to Alexander's grand vision. Even after his death, his successors continued building it according to his original plan, turning imagination into stone.

Legend surrounding the foundation

Like many great historical events, Alexandria’s founding soon gained legendary elements. Some stories claim Alexander dreamed of a divine figure who guided him to the site. Others say a spirit of the sea revealed the location. Historians interpret these tales not as literal truth but as symbolic attempts to express how perfectly suited the location seemed. When a decision appears lawless in hindsight, people assume divine guidance must have been involved

Meaning Beyond History

Alexander founded dozens of cities during his lifetime, but only one became synonymous with his name for two thousand years. That fact alone shows how extraordinary his choice was. Alexandria was not simply built -it was imagined first, then engineered, then mythologized. The deeper truth: Alexander didn’t just find a place for a city. He found a place where history, geography, and destiny could meet. Alexandria, Egypt, wasn’t the first city Alexander founded, but it became the most famous and influential of them all, as he founded 20 other cities named “Alexandria” with little change, depending on the country he entered.

Ultimately, after all of this evidence, the city quickly became one of the most important cultural and intellectual centers of the ancient world. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean made it a gateway between Africa, Europe, and Asia -a place where civilizations met, traded, debated, and left their mark. What makes Alexandria unique is not only its history, but also the way that history blends seamlessly with legend. Every monument here carries two stories: one preserved by archeology and another created by humans

Pompey’s pillar Stone, Power, and Myth

Rising dramatically above the ruins of ancient Alexandria, Pompey's Pillar is one of the tallest ancient columns ever constructed outside Rome, built in the 3^rd century CE in honor of Emperor Diocletian. Despite its name, it has no connection to Pompey: it was actually erected around 297CE in honor of Emperor Diocletian, as we said later. It stands as a symbol of Roman authority in Egypt. Carved from a single piece of red granite, the column demonstrates the engineering skill of ancient craftsmen who transported and erected massive stone blocks without modern machinery. Transporting such a massive monolithic stone from quarries in Aswan to Alexandria, over 800 km away, required extraordinary logistical planning. Workers likely used barges along the Nile and canal routes, then dragged the column using sledges, ropes, rollers, and coordinated manpower. Raising it upright would have required counterweight systems.

The Corinthian capital at the top is elaborately carved with acanthus leaves, demonstrating refined artistry combined with structural engineering. It was not simply decorative: it balanced weight distribution and protected the column's upper surface from erosion.  

Exact physical details

• Total height: about 26.85 meters
• Shaft height: about 20.5 meters
• Diameter: about 2.7 meters
• Weight of shaft alone: estimated 285 tons
• Material: single block of Aswan red granite

Legend vs Reality

Yet the monument is famous not only for its architecture but also for its legends. Travelers in the medieval and early modern periods claimed the capital was so wide that ancient Roman banquets were held on it, and that it was used as a platform for gatherings or even meals. This is physically impossible; the top is wide but not platform- sized, and reaching it would have required dangerous climbing. Historians today confirm this is a myth, but the story reflects how awe can turn into folklore, and it survives because people often exaggerate monuments they find overwhelming. Awe becomes myths.

The lighthouse legacy-science Behind the wonder

The ancient lighthouse of Alexandria, built in the 3rd century BCE under Ptolemaic rule, was one of the tallest structures in the ancient world, estimated at 100-130 meters high. It stood on Pharos island, connected to the mainland by a causeway called the Heptastadion.

Architectural design Historians describe it as a three-tier structure:

1. Square base (stability)
2. Octagonal middle (wind resistance)
3. Cylindrical top tower (light projection)

At its summit, a massive fire burned, whose light was reflected outward by highly polished metal mirrors, likely bronze or copper alloys. These mirrors amplified the flame’s brightness and projected it across the sea, allowing ships navigate safely at night or in fog

Ancient writers claimed that the light could be seen from nearly 50 km away. Some legends even said the mirrors could burn enemy ships by concentrating sunlight like a giant lens. While exaggerated, the myth shows how advanced the lighthouse seemed to ancient observers. To them, such optical technology felt almost supernatural.

The ancient lighthouse once stood among the seven wonders of the ancient world. Built on Pharos Island, it guided ships safely into harbor using firelight reflected through polished mirrors-an early example of applied optical science. Ancient writers described it as a visible form miles away, acting as both a navigational tool and a symbol of Alexandria’s global importance.

Its destruction over centuries of earthquakes didn’t erase its legacy. Instead, it inspires centuries of lighthouse design around the world. Even today, the word pharos is used in several languages to mean lighthouse. The monument’s disappearance gave rise to myths that it held secret chambers or hidden treasures, showing again how imagination fills the gaps left by history.

The lighthouse was earthquake-resistant for centuries, built with flexible mortar and tightly fitted stone blocks that absorbed seismic shock. After repeated earthquakes between the 10^th and 14^th centuries, it gradually collapsed. Its stones were later reused in nearby fortifications, meaning its physical form disappeared – but its scientific legacy survived.

The very word “pharos” became the root for ‘’lighthouse’’  in several languages, proving  its global influence

Citadel of Qaitbay-Fortress of The sea

In 1477 CE, Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay ordered a fortress built on the lighthouse's exact site to defend Egypt’s northern coast against naval invasion. Builders used stones recovered from the ruined lighthouse itself, symbolically transforming a scientific monument into a military one, which makes the foundation of this citadel extraordinary. In this way, Alexandria literally built its future from its past

The citadel’s design reflects advanced medieval military engineering :

• Thick limestone walls to absorb cannon fire
• Elevated towers for long-distance surveillance
• Narrow windows for archers and artillery
• Strategic placement directly facing the sea

It functioned not only as defense but also as political symbolism: whoever controlled Alexandria’s harbor controlled Mediterranean trade.

Guarding the Mediterranean shore stands the citadel of Qaitbay, Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay, to protect Egypt’s northern coast from naval invasions. Its thick stone walls, watchtowers, and strategic design reveal the military priorities of medieval Islamic architecture.  The fortress was not only defensive – it was symbolic, representing political strength and maritime.

The fact of the creation of the Legends and Myths in Alexandria

Alexandria’s monuments  inspired myths for three reasons:

1. Scale beyond expectation: Ancient visitors had never seen structures so tall or so precise. When something defies familiarity, imagination fills the gap.
2.  Loss of knowledge: Later generations forgot the original building techniques. Without explanation, speculation replaced facts
3. Cultural storytelling tradition: Travelers historically exaggerated stories to impress listeners. Over time, exaggerations hardened into legends.

Thus, myths are not historical errors-They are emotional  reactions to greatness

Ultimately, the deeper lesson Alexandria’s monuments teach us is this: What appears mysterious is often simply misunderstood sophistication.

The column shows mastery of stone logistics. The lighthouse reveals the mysteries of physics and optics. The citadel reveals the mystery of mastery in military architecture.

Together, they demonstrate that the ancient and medieval engineers possessed intelligence equal to, if not surpassing, modern designers' creativity, if not their technology.

And also, we have the big lesson that the real miracle is not that these structures inspired myths.

The real miracle is that humans built them at all.

At the end of this greatness, Alexandria became a living timeline. Let’s discuss this together :

What distinguishes Alexandria from many historic cities is continuity. Rather than remaining a frozen archaeological site, it evolved across the Greek, Roman, Islamic, and modern Egyptian periods. Each era added new architecture, beliefs, and stories. Walking through the city today is like turning the page of a history book written in stone and sea air.

Its monuments are not isolated attractions-they are chapters of one narrative. The Roman column represents imperial power, the lighthouse symbolizes scientific brilliance, and the citadel reflects medieval defense strategy. Together, they form a timeline that explains how civilizations rise, adapt, and transform.

Alexandria also fascinates the visitors. Let's discuss why.

Travelers are drawn to Alexandria not only because of what they see, but also because of what they feel. The sound of waves against ancient walls, the sight of ruins beside modern streets and the stories told by guides all create a layered experience. Visitors realize they are standing in a place where philosophers once debated, sailors once navigated by firelight, and empires once competed for control.

In Alexandria, history is not distant- it is present. The city’s greatest attraction is this rare combination of reality and legend, where facts are impressive, and myths are unforgettable.