Alexandria
Summary
The great maritime city of Egypt founded by Alexander the Great, which became a major center of Hellenistic learning, Jewish population, and early Christianity, and the birthplace of Apollos.
☩Foundation and Location
Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC on his way to visit the Oracle of Ammon. The city was built on a neck of land about two miles wide between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mareotis, approximately twelve miles west of the Canopic mouth of the Nile. Alexander himself traced the ground plan, perceiving that commerce could be advantageously directed through this strategic location. The architect Deinocrates, already famous for building the Temple of Diana, was given free hand to create what became one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world.
☩The City's Splendor
Under the Ptolemies, Alexandria became successively the capital of Hellenistic, Roman, and Christian Egypt, and 'the greatest mart in the world.' About four miles long and nearly a mile wide, it was laid out with straight parallel streets crossing at a great central square—one street being 200 feet wide. The famous lighthouse on the island of Pharos was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the great library housed hundreds of thousands of scrolls representing the learning of the known world.
☩Jewish Population
Alexander himself assigned Jews a place in his new city, and the Jewish population grew to enormous proportions. Philo estimated their number at nearly one million in his time, with two of the city's five quarters occupied predominantly by Jews. It was here that the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek was produced, providing Greek-speaking Jews throughout the Mediterranean world with the Scriptures in their common language. This translation became foundational for the spread of the gospel.
☩New Testament Connections
In the New Testament, Alexandria is mentioned as the origin of certain Jews who disputed with Stephen, and as the home city of Apollos, described as 'an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures.' The large grain ships that sailed between Alexandria and Rome, two of which carried Paul on portions of his voyage to Rome, were vital to the empire's food supply. Tradition relates that the apostle Mark first introduced Christianity to Alexandria, and the church there became one of the most important episcopal sees of the early Church.
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Alexandria," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Alexandria," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Alexandria," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.George Morrish, "Alexandria," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).