ALEXANDRIA

ALEXANDRIA is a world-famous city, the chief port of Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. It was a major centre of Hellenistic culture, and at one time a great centre of learning. It was renowned for the Pharos lighthouse and its possession of the largest library of antique literature in the world, which was burned by the Caliph Omar in 640.

At one time, it was also a place of great commerce, but that has very materially decayed since the opening of the Suez Canal. Alexandria, from its intimate connection with both East and West, gave birth in early times to a speculative philosophy which drew its principles from eastern as well as western sources, which was at its height on the first encounter of these elements.