Evening star., 1934-11-03
HELLENIC CAPITAL
LIKE WASHINGTON
Both Designed in Advance
by Master Craftsmen
With Eye to Beauty.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

Alexandria, Hellenic capital of
Egypt, like Washington, was made
to order. Its founder was Alexander
the Great, and the date when the
work began customarily is given as
1872 BIC. The young Macedonian
conqueror, voyaging from Memphis
to Canobus, had been attracted by
the natural advantages of the village
of RhacotiS, long resort of Greek
and Phoenician mariners. The har-
bor was good, an island called Pharos
afforded protection and the site in
every other way seemed suitable for
development.
An architect, Deinocrates by name,
was commissioned to survey the ter
ritory and to draft detailed plans
for a military and commercial
metropolis of the first rank"
But the outlines of Deinocrates' de-
sign were sketched by Alexander him.
self and it is believed that a cloak
worn by the Macedonian cavalry was
his model-an oblong figure, rounded
at the southeast and southwest ex-
tremities. The dimensions, as given
by Pliny, were approximately miles
in length, l mile in breadth and Is
miles in circumference. Streets were
arranged to cross at right angles
and were commanded to be wide
enough to allow for both wheel
vehicles and foot passengers. Two
especially wide boulevards ran from
the north to the south and from
the east to the west gates.
Beauty in All Directions.
On the north side was the Egyptian
Sea, on the south Lake Mareotis, on
the west metropolis and numerous
beautiful gardens and on the east the
EleuSian road and a commodious hip
podrome for outdoor sports and spec
tacleS. The climate was congenial,
the soil sandy and dry, but firm
enough to furnish durable founda-
tlons, and water was available by
aqueduct from the Nile. Booms and
chains guarded the basin entrances
and large fleets could lie at anchor In
sheltered safety. Pharos and smaller
Islands were strongly fortified.
peninsular strip at the east end
of the harbor line was occupied by
magnificent palace with surrounding
groves and parkland and a royal port
for the use of the kings galleys.
Westward there was the Posideon or
Temple OF Neptune, sanctuary dedi-
Gated to the marine deity and used
particularly by sailors and fishermen
the point at which Mark Antony
landed after his defeat at the battle
of Actium, 81 BIC.
Great Mole Dominant.
But the principal feature of the
seaward side of Alexandria was the
Great Mole or Heptastadium between
the mainland and Pharos. A cause
way running along the top of an
artificial mound, this structure had
southern terminus at the Gate of the
Moon and a northern at the Temple
of Hephaestus, denominated Phtah
by the Egyptians. 1t included two
bridges which could be raised or
lowered at will and furnish the means
OF communication in times of peace
and means of defense in times of
war. Its construction was ordered by
Alexander, personally.
On Pharos stood one of the most
widely famous of ancient structures -
the celebrated lighthouse built by
Sostratus of Cnidus for Ptolemy Softer,
and regarded for ages as one of the
classic wonders Of the world. White
marble was the material used by the
architect, and the tower reached more
than 400 feet high. The cost has
been estimated at S850,OOo, and prob
ably was even greater. But the money
was wisely spent, for the light house
n in
centuries and its base was employed
for the foundation of a modern sue
CesSor.
The city proper was divided into
three sections or regions" of which
that occupied by the Greeks was the
most important. Called the Bruche-
ium or the Pyrucheium, this Hellenic
portion had its own walls. Its main
streets were broad avenues. and its
principal edifices noble buildings.
Famed Library Group.
, Within its compass was the famous
library with its related museum and
theater, all of spotlesS marble. Here
as many as 100000 volumes, it is
said, were collected. The treasury in
cluded the books and manuscripts
of the kings of Pergamus presented
Dy Mark Antony TO Cleopatra. In
the museum met the classes of the
royal university of Egypt, and at the
theater public lectures and ScholaS-
tic festivals were held. The center
suffered when Julius Caesar was be-
Sieged there and was practically de-
Stroyed by Amrou. lieutenant of the
Caliph Omar, 65l A. D.
In the Brucheium also were the
Caesarium or or-Temple of the Caesars.
where both living and dead emperors
received divine honors; the Soma or
Mausoleum Of the Ptolemies. where
Alexander was entombed; the high
court OF justice; the Arsinoeum,
monument raised by Ptolemy Phila-
delphus to the memory of his sister
Arsinoe; the Panium, a conical
mound with an exterior spiral ascent
from its base; the Emporium or
commercial exchange, where inter-
national trade was carried on; public
granaries; stadium; a gymnasium:
a paleStra and an amphitheater,
Idol Adorned by Gems.
The Rhacotis or Egyptian quarter
occupied the site of the ancient
Rhacotis. Its principal monument
was the Serapeion or Temple of
Scraps, erected by the first or second
OF the Ptolemies. A curious gigantic
eff1gy Of the god stood in the main
hall. and 1t Is believed that the idol
in its prime was literally covered with
precious stones.
A Jews quarter, like that of the