The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-03-07
Alexandria and Its Monuments.

uOoC hONA VAIO WIZ W hAu stA uItOl WI
of such y role. Good Words.
Alexandria and Its Monuments.
ALEXANDRIA was commenced by Al
exander the Great, B. G. 1923, the site
having been selected on account of its
natural advantages as a great harbor.
The building of the city was carried
forward after Alexander's death by
Ptolemy Softer, and afterward again by
his son. Continuing, under successive
monarchists, to increase in wealth and
population. it at last, in its greatest
days, numbered 100000 people. In the
third century of the Christian Era its
glory commenced to wane, until, in the
latter part of the eighteenth century,
the population was not 10000 souls.
Under Mehemet Ali, in the present CEN
tury, the tide again turned, so that now
Alexandria shelters not less than 1885,
600 inhabitants.
The city has two harbors, or ports of
entry, known as the New and the Old
The New Port is used only by small ma
tive boats, the commerce of the place
being confined to the Old Port, which
is better protected by breakwaters and
free of rocks and shoals. Directly on
the shore of the harbor, in the eastern
part of the city, stands the obelisk
whose mate, known as Cleopatra s
Needle, was lately embarked for Lon
don. The people here, and some au-
thorities, designate both by the name
of Cleopatra Needle, and there is no
reason why it should not be so, as they
are exact duplicates. The one still
here is standing, while the other was
almost buried in the sand, in its fallen
position, until removed by the English.
The spot from which they took il re
mains exactly as when the disinterment
was completed, showing the situation
of the column as it lay imbedded.
While the exact origin of these obelisks
is shrouded in obscurity of early Egyp-
tan history, they were most probably
first set up by Thothmosis ILL.,, in front
of the Temple of the Sun, at Heliopolis,
somewhere about 1850 h. G.. He'll
opolis was located about five
miles from modern Cairo. Among
the hieroglyphics carved on them
are the names of ThOthmosis Ill,
Rameses II. and Seth ii. AS it very
often happened that Egyptian rulers
erected temples, tombs and obelisks to
glorify their own names, the Cleopatra
Needles are attributed to the first King
whose name is cut on them. On the
question of their removal to this city
the authorities disagree. One writer
asserts they were brought here during
the reign Of Tiberius, early in the first
century, and placed before the temple
of Caesar. Another historian assigns
their removal to Cleopatra, who set
them before the Caesarium which she
built to celebrate the birth of her son
by Julius Caesar. The latter statement
would probably account for the origin
of the names of the shafts, which other
wise is unknown. Both are of red
Syene granite, which closely resembles
that now exported from Scotland,
though larger in the grain. The Needle
which left for London is IS feet in
height, and the remaining one Il feet.
The diameter at the base is the same in
both, feet inches. The shorter one,
lately taken away in the novel "Cleo-
patra," was presented to England by
Mehemet Ali, to commemorate the
successful issue of the campaign which
drove the French from Egypt. A re-
port is now in circulation here to the
effect that party of Americans have
purchased the second obelisk from the
Khedive, with view to dispose of it
at a profit to some city of the United
States. The story even goes so far as
to name the amount paid, f1O0.OO0.
Another remarkable monument in
Alexandria is the so-called Pompey's
Pillar, the shaft of which is one piece
of polished red granite, 70 feet high and
with a circumference of 20 feet 8
inches. The pedestal and capital Of
the column are of later origin, but
serve to increase the whole to a total
height of 80 feet. No explanation is
given how the relic acquired the name
It bears. The Greek inscription states
it was erected in honor of Diocletian,
who conquered Alexandria A. ID. 296,
after destructive siege of eight months.
Close to Pompey's Pillar is the Mo-
hammedan burying-g and while
there we were fortunate enough to wit
ness the arrival of funeral. The box
containing the body was covered with a
cloth and borne upon the shoulders OF
four men by means of two poles tied
lengthwise. Following or crowding
around the bearers came a concourse OF
upwards of hundred people of boil,
sexes, nearly all of whom joined in a
moaning concert. When the grave
was reached great pressure ensued to
see the body deposited, which seemed
to be done without any service. Our
dragoman did not advise venturing too
close, as the natives are very sensitive
to any intrusion from the Franks at
times when their religious or other
rites are in progress. Although we
waited some time they continued to
crowd around the grave, suggesting
that the operation of filling was taking
place. The graves of the poorer classes
are marked by semi-circular mound
of mortar, about two feet high in the
center, and extending the length of the
body. The richer people have stone
mausoleums, in which the dead are in
TERED under the floor. The arrange
ment and appearance of the cemetery
are far better than the living condition
of the people would Justify expecting.
Their estate here is of the lowest char
acter, and hope we may be able to
discern the Improvement in it which is
said to exist at Cairo,-Cor, Philaclel-
r'hia Bulletin.