Alexandria Flashcards
(95 cards)
1
Q
What time period is the Classical- Hellenistic Egypt?
A
- equivalent to the late period.
- dynasties 26-30 664-323 (some interruptions by Persians)
- Ptolemaic Dynasty 323-30 BC
- Egypt as Roman province from 30BC
2
Q
What can we say about Alexandria’s location?
A
- Quite far away from main part of Egypt
- Excellent connections to water pathways and roads with rest of Egypt and Africa.
3
Q
What were cities and urban areas like in Pharaonic Egypt?
A
- Temples central religious and economic features
- Temple enclosure made from mud, temple from brick.
4
Q
Describe the area of Tanis in Alexandria
A
- Temples linked by processional paths
- Services, admin
- Outlying cemeteries
- Suburbs with elite to worker size houses
5
Q
Describe the situation of cities in Egypt
A
- Most obvious place to rule Egypt from is Memphis
- Multiple capital cities depending on where the power is
- Key development in Alexandria.
6
Q
How was the city of Alexandria organised?
A
- Different areas for different nationalities e.g. Naukratis, Helleneion, Greek nationalism.
- City divided into ethnic quarters.
- Some Greek and Egyptian temples.
7
Q
How did the Greek and Egyptian cultures merge?
A
- Greek and Egyptian mixing happening even before te foundation of Alexandria.
- Amphoras (pottery) but for Egyptian or Greek consumers
- Changing patterns of eating, drinking and dining.
- Melting pot
8
Q
How does Homer describe Alexandria?
A
Describes a small settlement which is more of a stopping place for travellers than an actual place.
9
Q
What does Forster say about Alexanderia?
A
- Few cities have made such an impressive entrance into History
10
Q
Who was Alexander the Great?
A
- Saviour of the Egyptians from the Persians
- Welcomed as ruler of Egypt
- Warrior/soldier/king
- Embraced Egyptian customers
- Profound impact
11
Q
Where was Sita?
A
- Went to Sita in order not to offend anyone by not choosing their oracle (Alexander)
12
Q
What is the temple of Amon reminiscent of?
A
- The acropolis in Athens
- ON a large hill
13
Q
Why did Alexander found a new city?
A
- Port of trade for the east Mediterranean
- No previous settlement so no previous ties or favour
- Imperial statement, strategic centre
- Story of having a vision to build a great new city.
14
Q
What is Bates island?
A
- Rocky outcrop of the northern coast
- Trading point since the Bronze Age
- Sea level 1.5 million lower so it was much more prominent
15
Q
Describe the construction of the city of Alexandria?
A
- Construction joined together two places
- East and west harbour- one was always useable
- Pharos lighthouse was founded
16
Q
Who first helped to design Alexandria?
A
- Cleomenes of Naukratis: finance, engineer
- Deinokratis of Rhodes
- Krateros of Olynthus
- Hero of Libya
- Foundation was April 7th 331BC
- Hippodamian grid
17
Q
How does Strabo first describe the city of Alexandria?
A
- Describes the Great Harbour in the East, the Eunostos Harbour in the west and the Hepastadium which was originally an aqueduct.
18
Q
What is one of the pieces of evidence for the Pharos lighthouse?
A
- Ancient depictions and monuments
19
Q
Give some facts about the Pharos lighthouse
A
- Cherubs on the top laying trumpets
- 120 m high
- Light visible up to 55km away
- Guarded night and day
20
Q
How do we know so much about the Pharos lighthouse?
A
- Drawings of H Thiersch have been most influential in reconstructions since they were published in 1906
- Extensive reconstructions
21
Q
What is on the site of the Pharos lighthouse?
A
- Qaitbey Fort
22
Q
What archaeological evidence is there for the Pharos lighthouse?
A
- Extensive material lying in the harbour areas
- Fell down because of the earthquake
23
Q
What was the most prominent feature in the Alexandrian landscape?
A
- Lighthouse dominates landscape
- City construction continued after Alexander’s death
24
Q
What was a problem with water in agriculture?
A
- Does not have it’s own fresh water supply other than a lake.
25
Describe cisterns in Alexandria-
- El Sahrig Nabih
- 4 levels 9th century AD
- Up to 400 recorded by Napeoleonic Commission 1799- 1803
- Cut into bedrock but how early was the system actually initiated.
26
Who is given credit of the construction of most of the infrastructure?
- Ptolemy II (309- 246BC)
27
What is noticeable about the Ptolemaic Colossus from the Pharos?
- Hybrid style statue- Greek and Egyptian influences
28
What does Strabo say about the general city?
- 'The city compromises superb public areas'
| - Describes the gymnasium as the most beautiful building.
29
How was the city of Alexandria laid out?
- Modern city gives a sense of the old footprint of the city.
- Cluster of buildings in the centre including the Library, the Gymnasium, the Caesareum, the temple of Poseidon
- Royal palace and the temple of Artemis on the edge at the harbour
30
Describe the Orthogonal grid layout
- Architect Deinokrates of Rhodes
- Comparable to new city of Milet, Ionia in 5th century BC
- Canopic Road, 33m wide: east Canopic gate western Gate
- Colonnaded for protection from sun
- Intersected by north-south road, with Sun gate to north, Moon Gate to south, connecting seashore and lake harbour
- Road used for processions.
31
What was the general appearance of the city of Alexandria?
- Condense city but with very wide streets.
| - Pleasant sea facing climate
32
What were the Shallalat gardens?
- Ancient walls; restored
| - Probably Arab, but using older foundations and stone
33
What were the physical, social and religious limits of Alexandria?
- Fortification walls- probably since Ptolemy I to delimit city
- Cemeteries outside the limits and city walls
- Area inside divided into quarters, and given letters of Greek alphabet, Alpha to Epsilon
- Delta area for Jews
- Alexandria/ Greek citizenship important for status and taxation
34
Describe the Royal Quarter: Great Harbour
- Most successful place for identifying buildings and materials
- Big harbour with lots of little inlets
- Lots of boat parties and processions
- Giant theatre of power
35
What types of architectural fragments have been found in Alexandria?
- Limestone pavements
- Column shafts, capitals and bases
- Pharonic blocks and reused sculptures
- Hellenistic and Roman sculpture made in Alexandria with royal patronage.
- Red brick walls from harbour installations
36
What do we know about the Timonium?
- Site found using radar mapping
- Had a dramatic approach
- Square building
37
Describe the Grey granite head found underwater?
- Ht 80cm
- Possibly Augustus
- Typical style
- Reminisent of sphinx
- Curly hair- very reminiscent
- Made from Egyptian granite
38
Describe the Priest of Canopus statue
- From Royal quarter
| - Repeated combination of Egyptian and Greek blended styles
39
Describe the land area of the royal quarter
- Modern corniche covers the bazillion or main Ptolemaic palace (where Cleopatra's were erected)
- Textual info is unreliable so any reconstructions based on them cannot be trusted
- Foundations and lowest levels of building were found. Much of upper building was removed for reuse in the medieval period.
- Scale of foundations showed they were royal buildings
40
What is one of the problems of archaeological evidence in Alexandria?
- Quality of excavations are quite poor due to rushed work
| - Excavations often carried out in time pressure scenarios
41
Describe they tomb of Alexander the Great
- Visited by classical authors, tombs of early Ptolemaic kings
- 300BC Latin Cemetery, east side, close to the city wall
42
Describe ruler cults
- Arsinoe II became a goddess and living ba. Her statue would be placed in all the sanctuaries as a guest goddess.
- She also became a Greek goddess
- Festivals were held in Alexandria in her honour
- Evidence for her cult throughout the Aegean
43
Describe the area of the Rhakotis
- Older settled part of the city
| - High hill with a temple on it- potentially replicating the idea on the Acropolis.
44
Describe the different sections of the library
- Ptolemaic reconstruction
- Statue in main temple
- Catacombs under temple
- Daughter library
45
Describe the acropolis of Alexandria
- Roman Serapeum
- Temple repurposed over time
- Destroyed by Christians during Roman times
46
How was the temple of Alexandria described by Aphthonius?
- The column stands out in the city and is a considerable reference point in the city.
47
What were some of the Egyptian temples in Alexandria?
- Isis- Pharia, Isis-Plousia, Isis-Demeter
- Bastet
- Neilos
48
What were some of the Greek temples in Alexandria?
- Hermaion (built by Cleopatra, now St Michael's Church
- Thetis
- Poseidon
- Isis (Aphrodite)
49
Describe the museum and the library?
- Inside royal palace area
- 700,000 volumes
- Famous texts including Homeric texts
50
Who were some heroes of ALexandria?
- Theron- philosophy
- Euclid- maths
- Archimedes- multiple
51
Name some of the monumental buildings in Alexandria
- Hippodrome- Sporting club
- Racecourse- Serapeum area
- Great Atrium- Court cases
- Agora- Crossroads in centre
52
Describe the necropolis areas?
- South west of Serapeum
- Western cemeteries
- Pharos cemeteries
- Eastern Necropolis
53
What did it mean to be Alexandrian?
- hereditary
- Could be conferred by naturalisation
- Being Alexandrian gave you special privileges
54
What privileges did Alexandrian civilians have?
- Exemption from poll-tax
- Reduced tax on garden land in Egypt
- Could be punished by beating with rod instead of with whip
- Public offices/services had to be carried out
- Doesn't distinguish between Greek and Egyptian.
55
What were some problematic sources in Alexandria?
- Conspicuous consumption
- Money
- Housing
- Mosaics
- Industries and art
- Funeral industry
56
What was the Dionysian procession?
- described by Kallixeinos of Rhodes
- From a pavilion through the city stadium
- Episodes from life of Dionysus staged on wheel carts
- Morning star
- Celebration of the parents of the king
- Procession of the gods
- Evening star
- Returns as a new person
- Giant wheels in the procession each celebrating different stages of Dionysus' life
57
Describe money in ALexandria?
- Huge amount of wealth and power
- Propaganda power of coins- used for Serapeum
- Coins became smaller over time due to economic difficulties
58
Describe the coins of Claudius
- More efficient transactions
- Homogenuous economy
- In service of political agenda of kings
- more complete collection of salt tax
- Transactions become much more efficient
- Not necessary to carry things to exchange with
59
Describe the housing in Alexandria
- Limestone, 2 storey house, late period Ptolemaic
- Shops, workshops, ground floor
- Made of mud brick, some wooden bits
- Rented out by rich landlords
- Tall and thin, fitting lots of people in vertically
- Rural areas- animals on ground floor
60
Give an example of a wealthy style house in Alexandria
- House alpha Kom el Dickens 2nd AD
| - Pseudo- peristyle courtyard house
61
What facilities did wealthier houses in Alexandria have?
- Baths
- Lecture rooms
- Theatre
- Cistern
- Houses and workshops
62
What is house D?
- Kom el Dickens
- 4th- 7th century AD
- Workshops either side of a courtyard
- Domestic quarters upside
- Small communities within these buildings- insular
63
Describe house decoration in Alexandria
- Craftsmen thought to have been Alexandrian
- Mosaics
- Survive because they are often floor layers
- Designs created to stimulate conversation
64
What craft increased in the 2nd-1st century BC?
- Glassmaking because of increase in technology
65
What was a Faience jar?
- Produced in huge quantities
- Sold within the city but also exported outside of Egypt
- Had a figure of Bes on it
- 3rd century BC
- Height 18.5cm
66
Describe metalworking in Alexandria
- Goblet
- Dionysian scene in a Grape arbour
- Silver and gold
67
Describe Aphrodite in Alexandria
- Hellenistic statue height 25cm
| - Cult of this goddess in Alexandria as early as Ptolemaic period
68
What were terracotta?
- Placed in tombs
- Generally showed women in Greek styles
- Clay also imported from Creca
69
Describe the funerary industry in Alexandria
- Extensive industry
- Particular locations favoured at different periods
- Hypogeum's cut down into the soft bedrock. Stairways often led to main entrance.
70
Describe the catacombs at Kom el Shoqafa
- More luxurious tombs for the more elite
- Further underground
- Dining rooms created just for funeral feast
- Anubis shown wearing Roman armour
- Egyptian columns
- Strong symbolism and industry
71
Describe the Tegran tomb in Alexandria
- Medusa medallion
- Isis and Nephthys
- Winged desk mummy
- 2nd century AD
- Hybrid style
- Roman bed with Egyptian and Greek imagery
72
Describe Amphorae in Alexandria
- 55,000 stamped amphora handles
- Strong links with Rhodes
- Alexandria imported empty amphorae from Rhodes
73
What was the population of Alexandria?
- 300,000-500,000
74
What was Alexandria's location situation?
- Alexandria trapped in a peninsula and surrounded by water
- Lake Mareotus provided a kind of southern port
- Orchards grown on west side by the delta
75
What were the communication networks like in Alexandria?
- Internal port which had good access in various directions
| - Customs point situated in Schedia
76
Describe communication networks in Berenike
- Ptolemy II 275BC to AD550
- 1st c AD long distance trade between India and Spain Peppercrons. Big harbour
- Mid 4th to 5th c trade with India and Sri Lanka
- Egypt very dependent on the river Nile
- New port founded by Ptolemy II and used up to late roman period
77
Where were a lot of Alexandrian goods sold?
- Big consumer bases in Alexandria, Nikopolis and the Canopic mouth
- Whole of lake developed
- Idea of satellite cities which supported Alexandria.
78
What happened to trade in Berenike during the early Roman Period?
- Port was extensively expanded during the early Roman period.
- The peninsula had been growing an built up through natural silts.
79
Describe consumer demand for Alexandrian goods in Rome
- Quarries in the Eastern desert were exploited during the Roman period e.g. Mons Claudianus
80
Describe Canopus, Herakleon-Thonis and menouthis
- Disney-land-by the sea
- Series of islands in the canopic mouth
- From the late period to 7th century AD
- Subsided under sea by 10th C AD
- Temple to canopus, the Nile, Heracles
- These areas have only been investigated in the last 15-20 years
81
What has been found in the canopic mouth areas?
- Colossal statues of Ptolemaic king and queen (4.9m)
82
Describe the Wadi Natrun and glass works?
- Presence of sand suggested glass work
- Only investigated recently
- Near to natura resources but removed from populations.
- Roman period glass kilns for the production of raw glass and finished glass found here
83
What was just inland of Alexandria, Canopus, Herakleion and Menouthis?
- Lake Mareotis
84
What was Taposiris Magna?
- Big temple
- Found to be the burial place of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony
- Change in the 7th century
- Lots of temple treasure and ritual equipment suggests vast wealth
- Small settlement attached to the temple.
85
Describe the Taposiris Cemetery 2nd C
- One of the main monuments in the cemetery is a miniature version of the Pharos lighthouse.
86
Describe Marea
- Wine production, fishing, transhipping
- Amphora kilns
- Glass kilns
- Links to Paraetonium and Siwa
- Marina el Alamein
87
What were the two main phases of use of Marea?
- Ptolemaic city
- Byzantine Port
- Evidence of bath houses and quay sites
- Was a part of Alexandria's extensive Hinterland
88
Describe site no 118 Marea: LMRP Blue and Khalil
- 3 multi roomed coastal structures
- Limestone
- Ptolemaic/early roman pottery
- Finewares, amphorae, cooking pots etc
- Presence of domestic quarters, locally built, relatively short-lived 'boom'.
- Built by state or private entrepreneurs
89
Describe lake Mareotis
- Leisure resorts
- Wine growing
- New settlements from Ptolemaic period onward
- Shipping goods from western delta, Canopic branch to Mareotis shores and Alexandria.
- Well known from Roman accounts
- Place to go to escape the bustle of the city.
- Wilson et al (2009)
90
Describe the Fayum
- Estates: Zenon Archive for Apollonius
- Land available tripled to 1350km2 by new irrigation technology.
- 170,000-200,000 people in the Roman period
- Ca. 267 BC Arsinoite nome created
- New towns created for Greek and Egyptian settlers
- Extensively improved during the Ptolemaic period
- People migrating from all over the Mediterranean
91
What were estates given as gifts referred as?
- Doreai
| - 10,000 Arourae for officials and members of Alexandrian elite.
92
Describe Tebtunis
- South Fayum
- Double cropping? By using a wall to hold back water
- and leased at 15 artabas per aroura agricultural production was doubled
- well excavated area
- land much more valuable here
93
Describe the Nile Valley and Delta during the Ptolemaic period?
- Royal land
- Temple land
- Cleruchic land (soldiers)
- Private land
94
Describe the Nile Valley and Delta land during the Roman period
- Public land
- Temple land
- Katoikic land (settlers)
- Private land
- Imperial land
95
What were the conclusions of the Lake Mareotis Research Project?
- Alexandria not an agricultural or industrial city but a combination.
- Economy primarily based on commerce, administration providing services for internal and overseas transport
- Continuous supply of raw materials and manufactured products was vital/.
- Efficient, well managed organisation of supply and consumption
