The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-07-19
TWO THOUSAND YEARS OLD.
The History of the city Founded by
Alexander. md which ~ row he
linz RnNnrcA ilY Elre mud SWORD.

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The History of the city Found ed by
Alexander. md which ~ now Bc-
ing Rnvaged by Fire ana sword.
Had Aloxanderth Greats conquest OF great
part OF India preceded his founding OF the city
named after him twelve miles west of the Can
opic mouth of the Nile, an ingenious historian
would ind II easy to maintain that the motive
OF Its Macedonian builder was identical with
that OF the British In seeking the other day to
capture 1t. Alexander built 1t, however, 1t
must DO assumed, with exclusive reference to
the trade OF the Nile, and with no dream that
II would at any time come Into an Intimate re-
latlon with the trade of India.
The history OF Alexandria is, In fact, older
than It's name, for the Island of pharos was
from n very early period the refuge OF creek
and phmnfcian ecarovors while upon tho
mainland the rude village OF Rhacotis existed
long before the beginning of tho city to a
quarter OF which II subsequently gave Its
name. But II was not until the advent OF
Alexander, who discorned with atrategic eye
the fitness OF It's location for trade, that tho
Alexandria OF history was founded, In tho year
$50 u. q.
The Modern Alexandria
stands partly on what was the Island of
pharos, now penit suln, but mostly on tho
isthmuB extending TO tho mainland, which
formerly was an artificial dyke between tho
island and the land, and has attained its pros
ent Dimensions through constant accumula.
ton or soil and ruins.
Ancient Alexandria
was upon the mainland adjacent to tho mod.
ern town, twelve miles west OF the Rosetta, or
Western Nile, ana between tho Lake Marc
otis ON tho south and the Mediterranean on
tho north. The diyination OF Alexander's
genius was shown In the Immediate and rapid
growth OF the city, which soon became the
ruler and queen OF Eastern commerce. Its
development In other directions was greatly
aided by the enlightened liberality OF the
earlier Ptoiemies, who had possessed them
selves of tho kingdom OF Egypt after the death
OF Alexander. Under their rule the popula-
tion increased to ut least half million, and
the city was mado glorious with monuments,
palaces and other public buildings, among
them the pharos, the
'swonder.of the World"
the Museum, and the Scrapcum, or Temple OF
Serapis the god who after Introduction by the
first Piolemy had dethroned the ancient Osiris.
Under the later Ptolemles the city suffered
some decline, but It was yet at high pitch Of
splendor when tho last OF that line bequeathed
II to the Romans. The civil commissions of
Italy prevented the peaceable passing of this
bequost, md Julius Caesar besleged and took
the city III the year dS u. O. Then followed
the episode OF seven months
Detention OF Caesar ana Cleopatra.
after Pharsalia, succeeded by tho Joint reign
OF Antony and Cleopatra, and 1t was not until
the world had been lost and won at Actum
that Alexandria finally submitted to the
Roman power, under Augustus In the year
80 b. @.
He made 1t an imperial city, under project
appointed by the Emperor, and for two centl-
ties and n half Its old prosperity was revived.
The municipality was restored by Severus in
tho year 100 A. ID. But In the year 215 Cara
Gala, visiting the city, was melted to one of
his insane butcheres, which amounted TO a
general massacre. Tumults occurring under
the rule OF Gallienus caused n considerable
loss OF life, and subsequent famine i5 be-
lleyed to have carried OFF ono.half the popula-
ton.
A Revolt Under AureIlan,
In the year 273, resulted In the complete de.
struction OF the royal or Greek quarter and the
library Of the Museum, which, having suffered
under Caesar, had been thoroughly restored,
now entirely persisted. A revolt against
Diocletian, In the year 296, caused an eight
months siege and capture and general
slaughter OF the Inhabitants.
In the year 305 terrible earthquake IN
1ured the city, and is reported to have destroy.
ed 10000 persons. Contentious between the
pagan and Christian citizens eliminated abou,
the year 400 in tho destruction OF tho Sera.
peum by Theophilus tho Patriarch, who other
pillaged or destroyed the remaining grea
library therein contained. For two centuries
more, with the decreasing power OF tho Caesars
their hold upon the city Weakened and it,
own internal connections and dissensions con
stantly diminished Its Importance.
II Yielded i'm GIG,
TO Chosroes, King OF Persia, and finally, In De
cember, GAL, the Arabs, under Amrou, genera
of the Caliph Omar, captured II after a segl
OF fourteen months, during which Heracliu
| sent not single ship or soldier TO Its aid.
| Even in such decadence Amrou could repor
| his prize to Omar as containing 400 palaces
400 theatres, 4,0o0 public baths, $4,000 gar
| dens and 10000 tributary jews. The repOr
| Of the great destruction OF library by tn
| Arabs, under Omar's order, has caused cen
| turtles OF regret, but the fact seems very doubt
full. tits upon the whole unlikely that yer.
| much remained to be destroyed, and the ter5
saying attributed to Omar, that II the book
| agreed with the Koran they were useless, aud
| II not were hurtful, has the air OF a deliberate
| invention. At any rate, historians wrltini
| nearest 10 the fact, both In time and place
| and amply describing tho conquest of tn
| city, make no mention OF literary ravage, be
| lief In which must rest upon the solitary re
port of n stranger living remote from til
scene and writing GOO years after the date Q
| the alleged occurrence.
| Under Arab Dominion
and in face OF the rising importance OF Cor
stantinople the population and trade of Ale,
andria rapidly diminished. In S75 tho wall
were demolished, and rebuilt upon n muc
smaller scale. The building of Cairo In 96i
eastern route by the Cape of Good Hope
nearly ruined Its commerce. visitor In III
reported the population as only 6,ooo.
The modern city presents by no means
| striking appearance and from Its situate
Its enyirons are fat, sandy and sterile. Il
walls have been destroyed In various place
10 make way for improvements. In the Turf
ish quarter the streets are narrow, filthy an
The European Quarter,
on tho other hand, presents handsome stree
and squares and excellent shops. There sti
remain several OF tho ancient monument
| among which may DO mentioned two obellsk
"Cleopatras Needless" originally brought
| Alexandria In the reign of Tiberius: "Por
pey's Pillar" which was, In fact, erected
| honor OF Diocletlan and surmounted by
statue OF that Emperor, has n height OF near
| q hundred feet. Southwest of the city are Il
catacombs which served for the burial of Il
dead. They are formed by excavations In Il
calcareous stone which underles the cons
They are of great extent, and some of Il
| chambers are remarkable for their eleganc
The population OF the city is OF very mix,
character, consisting, besides the native Turl
and Arabs, OF Armenians, Greeks, Syrian
Italians, French, English, Germans, etc.
1925 tho aggregate OF Its Inhabitants w
10000; In 1910, 10000; In 1871, 210,60
OF whom 53,S20 were foreigners.
population at the present day Is es
mated at about 100000. In 1861 the tot
value OF the exports from Alexandria W
$13,191,110; in 1871, 51,25S,0d0. In Il
latter year the imports wore worth S2S,76;
100, OF which S12,3d5,12 was from Englan
Cotton was exported to value OF 49,, 10000
Cotton seed, beans, corn, sugar, gums, COTE
ivory, wool, Soma, &c., are Its other princlp
articles OF export. The Suez Canal Will doul
less screw TO draw from Alexandria porto
OF Its tranllc, but tho improvements boil
munication with Suez must still give 1t certa
advantages over the other point as n ira,
centre, while II must continue to be, as here
fore, the great emporium OF the rapidly c
tending trade OF Egypt Itself.
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