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Alexandria and Alexander the Great — Alessandria
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Alexandria and Alexander the Great

the best-known legend about the founding of Alexandria tells that it was the famous Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great who founded the city in 331 BC. According to the legend, the king visited the oracle of Amun in Siwa, where he was foretold that he would become a god. Ale...

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Alexandria and Alexander the Great — Alessandria, Egypt.

Location
Alessandria
Type
Ghosts and Legends
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About Alexandria and Alexander the Great

Alexandria and Alexander the Great - Alessandria | Secret World Trip Planner

the best-known legend about the founding of Alexandria tells that it was the famous Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great who founded the city in 331 BC. According to the legend, the king visited the oracle of Amun in Siwa, where he was foretold that he would become a god. Alexander was so impressed by this prophecy that he decided to found a city that would be a center of culture and knowledge, dedicated to the worship of himself as a deity. He is said to have chosen the site of the city near the point where the Nile divides into two branches, the Rosetta and the Canopus.According to legend, the city was founded on the basis of a grid design, with a large central square and streets intersecting to form a regular grid. The city was designed to be the center of Greek culture in Egypt, with a large museum and library that would have collected all the works of antiquity.Although there is no historical evidence to support this legend, the founding of Alexandria by Alexander the Great was a significant event in the history of Egypt and the ancient world.

Alexandria and Alexander the Great - Alessandria | Secret World Trip Planner
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Frequently Asked Questions

Alexander founded Alexandria in 331 BC after visiting the oracle of Amun in Siwa, where he was prophesied to become a god. Impressed by this prophecy, he decided to establish a city that would serve as a center of culture and knowledge dedicated to his worship as a deity.
According to legend, Alexander chose the site of Alexandria near the point where the Nile River divides into two branches: the Rosetta and the Canopus. This strategic location made it an ideal center for Greek culture and trade in Egypt.
Alexandria was founded on a grid design featuring a large central square with streets intersecting to form a regular geometric pattern. This innovative urban planning made it one of the most organized cities of the ancient world and a model for Hellenistic city design.
Alexander designed Alexandria to house a large museum and library intended to collect all the works of antiquity, making it the premier center of Greek culture and knowledge in Egypt. These institutions were meant to preserve and celebrate intellectual achievements of the ancient world.
Although there is no historical evidence to support the founding legend, the establishment of Alexandria by Alexander the Great remains a significant event in both Egyptian and ancient world history. Regardless of the legendary details, the city became one of the most important centers of civilization in antiquity.

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