After defeating the Persians in Asia, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC and expelled them out of Egypt. Then, he crowned himself as a king in the Pharaonic style and founded a new capital for Egypt named after him as “Alexandria”. Later, he made a pilgrimage to the Temple of Amun at Siwa Oasis, which is famous in the world at that time.
Egypt under the Ptolemaic dynasty (323 BC-30 BC)
After Alexander’s death, Egypt was ruled by a general, Ptolemy who founded Ptolemic Dynasty who ruled from 323 BC to 30 BC. Ptolemic rule remained strong only in the reign of early kings. However, because of the weakness of the kings and the subsequent rebellion continuously by the Egyptians, Dynasty Ptolemic slump. Rome soon stepped in, ending Ptolemic power during the reign of Cleopatra in 30 BC.
Egyptian Civilization under the Ptolemies
Alexandria became the capital of Ptolemic rule in Egypt, where the magnificent palaces and gardens built. Alexandria is not only famous as a center for outstanding achievements in the arts, science, industry and trade but also as a major sea port in the Mediterranean Sea, thanks to its famous Lighthouse, which is regarded by the Greeks as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Alexandria is more famous for the University, which symbolizes the Hellenistic-Egyptian civilization great.
Alexandria UniversityCleopatra
At the University of Alexandria, founded by the Ptolemies, scientists arrived at scientific facts about the Earth’s rotation around the sun and approximate circumference of the planet. The University also famous for the study of medicine particularly anatomy and surgery. The most famous of the university scientists measuring the Euclid, Ptolemy the geographer and historian Maniton Egypt.
Library of Alexandria (Bibliotheca Alexandrina) and its Cultural Influence
Ptolemies established in Alexandria a large library, which is considered the largest in the world at that time. The library contains more than 500,000 papyrus scrolls. Ptolemies ordered that each visiting scientist should donate to the city copies of his works, thus bringing the number of books in the Alexandria Library to more than 700,000. Ptolemies showed respect for Egyptian religion, offered sacrifices to the gods of Egypt and the temple was built like those of Edfu, Dandara and Philae in Aswan. Ptolemies used to appear in an official ceremony in the clothes of Pharaoh.