Alexandria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexandria
الإسكندرية (Arabic)
Αλεξάνδρεια (Greek)
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View of the Waterfront
Citadel of Qaitbay
Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque
Montaza Palace
Pompey's Pillar
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| Nicknames:
Mediterranean's Bride, Pearl of the Mediterranean, Alex
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 Alexandria
Location in Egypt
Alexandria
Location in Africa
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| Country | Egypt | ||||||||
| Governorate | Alexandria | ||||||||
| Founded | 331 BC | ||||||||
| Founded by | Alexander the Great | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
| • Total | 1,661 km2 (641 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||||||||
| Population
(2023)
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| • Total | 6,100,000 | ||||||||
| • Density | 3,670/km2 (9,500/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Demonyms | Alexandrian, Alexandrine (Arabic: إسكندراني) | ||||||||
| GDP | |||||||||
| • Metro | EGP 566 billion (US$ 36 billion) |
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| Time zone | UTC+2 (EGY) | ||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 | ||||||||
| Postal code |
21xxx
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| Area code(s) | (+20) 3 | ||||||||
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Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt. It is also the biggest city on the Mediterranean Sea coast. This famous city is located at the western edge of the Nile Delta.
Alexandria was founded around 331 BC by Alexander the Great. It quickly became a major center of Greek culture. For nearly a thousand years, it was Egypt's capital. People often call it the "Bride of the Mediterranean" or "Pearl of the Mediterranean." Today, Alexandria is a popular place for tourists. It is also an important industrial city, especially for natural gas and oil.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Before Alexander the Great founded Alexandria, there was an Egyptian settlement called Rhacotis. The new city built on this site was named Alexandreia. This Greek name meant "Alexandria by Egypt" or "Alexandria near Egypt."
Later, when Arabs took over in 641 AD, the name changed. It became Al-Iskandariyya in Arabic. This is where the modern name "Alexandria" comes from.
A Look Back in Time
How Alexandria Began
People lived in this area even during Egypt's Old Kingdom (27th–21st centuries BC). There was a small fishing village called Rhacotis here. It existed since the 13th century BC.
Alexander the Great founded Alexandria in April 331 BC. He wanted a large Greek city on Egypt's coast. He planned for it to be a link between Greece and the rich Nile valley. Alexander left Egypt soon after, but his dream for the city continued.
After Alexander's death, his general Ptolemy took control of Egypt. Ptolemy made Alexandria his capital in 305 BC. The city grew very fast. It became bigger than Carthage in just one generation. For centuries, it was the second-largest city in the world, after Rome.
Alexandria was famous for its amazing buildings. These included the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It also had the Great Library, the largest in the ancient world. The city was a major center for learning and culture.
Changes Over Time
In 115 AD, parts of Alexandria were destroyed during a revolt. The Roman emperor Hadrian helped rebuild it. In 215 AD, another Roman emperor, Caracalla, ordered his troops to harm the city's young men. On July 21, 365 AD, a huge tsunami hit Alexandria. This event was remembered as a "day of horror."
In 619 AD, the city was taken by the Persians. The Byzantine emperor got it back in 629 AD. But in 641 AD, Arabs took over after a long siege. A new capital was later built in Fustat (which became part of Cairo).
During the Middle Ages, Alexandria was still important for trade. However, it lost some of its power when Portuguese sailors found a new sea route to India. This meant fewer goods passed through Alexandria.
In 1798, Napoleon's French army took the city. The British later captured it in 1801. Around 1810, Muhammad Ali, the Ottoman governor, started rebuilding Alexandria. By 1850, it was once again a grand city.
In 1882, British naval forces attacked and occupied the city. In the mid-1900s, Alexandria faced some challenges. Many Europeans living there started to leave after the Suez Crisis in 1956.
City Layout in Ancient Times
Ancient Alexandria was divided into three main areas:
- Rhakotis: This was the old Egyptian part of the city.
- Brucheum: This was the Royal or Greek quarter. It was the most beautiful part of the city.
- Jewish quarter: This was in the northeast part of the city.
Two main streets, very wide and lined with columns, crossed in the center. Here stood the tomb of Alexander the Great. One of these streets, the "Canopic" street, can still be seen in modern Alexandria.
The island of Pharos was connected to the mainland by a long causeway called the Heptastadion. This causeway helped create two large harbors. The famous Lighthouse of Alexandria was on Pharos island. It was about 138 meters (453 feet) tall. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century.
Famous Places to See
Because of many wars, not much of the ancient city remains today. Some parts even sank under the harbor. But there are still amazing historical sites to visit.
Pompey's Pillar
"Pompey's Pillar" is a tall Roman column. It is one of the most famous ancient monuments in Alexandria. It stands on a small hill that was once the city's ancient acropolis. The column is 30 meters (99 feet) high, including its base. It is made from a single piece of polished red granite.
This pillar was actually built in 293 AD for the Roman emperor Diocletian. It has nothing to do with Pompey, a Roman general. Underneath this hill are the remains of the Serapeum, an ancient temple.
Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are ancient underground tombs. They are a short distance from Pompey's Pillar. These catacombs are a multi-level maze. They have many rooms with carved pillars, statues, and religious symbols. There are also burial spots and large stone coffins. A Roman-style banquet room was used for memorial meals. These catacombs were found by accident in 1900.
Kom El Deka
Kom El Deka is a large excavation site in Alexandria. Here, archaeologists have found a well-preserved ancient theater. They have also found the remains of Roman-era baths.
Citadel of Qaitbay
The Citadel of Qaitbay is a strong fortress by the Mediterranean Sea. It was built in 1477 AD by Sultan Qaitbay. This citadel stands exactly where the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria used to be. It covers an area of 17,550 square meters.
Exploring the Past
People have worked hard to find ancient treasures in Alexandria. But digging is hard because the modern city is built right on top of the old one. Also, some parts of the ancient city, like Cleopatra's royal quarters, are now underwater due to earthquakes.
Underwater archaeologists are still exploring these submerged areas. They have found many interesting things. These discoveries are helping us learn more about the ancient city.
Places of Worship
Mosques
The most famous mosque in Alexandria is the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque. Other important mosques include Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque and Hatem mosque. Alexandria is also a center for Salafi movements in Egypt.
Churches
Alexandria was once a very important center for Christianity. The Patriarchate of Alexandria was one of the main Christian centers in the Eastern Roman Empire. Today, the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria continue this ancient tradition.
The main church for the Coptic Orthodox Church is Saint Mark Cathedral. Other important Coptic churches include Pope Cyril I Church and Saint George's Church. There are also many important Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches in the city.
Synagogues
Alexandria once had a large Jewish community. However, most Jewish residents left Egypt in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the community is very small. The most important synagogue in Alexandria is the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue.
Learning and Education
Universities
Alexandria has several universities. Alexandria University is a public university with many well-known departments. The Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology is a research university. The Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport is a highly respected institution. Université Senghor is a French university focusing on humanities.
In 2023, the Greek University of Patras announced it would open a branch in Alexandria. This branch will offer courses in Greek culture, language, and philosophy.
Schools
Alexandria has many international schools. French missionary schools started in the early 1800s. Today, schools like Collège Saint Marc and Lycée Français d'Alexandrie follow the French system. The Italian school is Istituto "Don Bosco".
English-language schools are very popular. Some well-known ones include the British School of Alexandria and Schutz American School. Victoria College and El Nasr Boys' School are also famous. There are also two German schools in Alexandria.
Getting Around
Airports
The main airport for Alexandria is Borg El Arab Airport. It is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the city center. The older El Nouzha Airport is now permanently closed.
Port
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Alexandria has four ports. The Western Port, also called Alexandria Port, is the most important. It handles about 60% of Egypt's trade. Other ports include Dekhela Port, the Eastern Port (for yachts), and Abu Qir Port.
Roads
Several major highways connect Alexandria to other cities. These include the International Coastal Road, the Cairo–Alexandria desert road, and the Cairo-Alexandria Agriculture Road.
Trains
Alexandria has a local train system that runs along the coast. It also has two main train stations for travel to other cities: Misr Station and Sidi Gaber railway station.
Trams
Alexandria has the oldest tramway network in Africa, built in 1860. The tram lines run from the west to the east of the city.
Metro
A new Alexandria Metro system is planned. Construction was expected to start in 2020.
Culture and Fun
Libraries
The ancient Library of Alexandria was once the largest library in the world. It was founded around 300 BC. Sadly, parts of it were destroyed by fire over time.
In 2002, a new library, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened near the site of the old one. It is a modern center for learning and culture.
Museums
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The Alexandria National Museum opened in 2003. It shows about 1,800 artifacts that tell the story of Alexandria and Egypt. It is in a beautiful old palace.
The Graeco-Roman Museum focuses on items from Alexandria's Greek and Roman times. It reopened in 2023 after major renovations. Other museums include the Royal Jewelry Museum.
Theaters
The Alexandria Opera House hosts many performances. You can see classical music, Arabic music, ballet, and opera there.
Sports
Football is the most popular sport in Alexandria, just like in the rest of Egypt. Alexandria Stadium is the oldest stadium in Egypt, built in 1929. It holds 20,000 people. Alexandria was one of the host cities for the 2006 African Cup of Nations football tournament.
Sea sports like surfing and jet-skiing are also popular. The city is home to the Alexandria Sporting Club, known for its basketball team. Alexandria has hosted the AfroBasket basketball tournament four times.
Alexandria has four stadiums:
- Alexandria Stadium
- Borg El Arab Stadium
- El Krom Stadium
- Harras El Hodoud Stadium
Other sports like tennis and squash are played at private clubs. These include Alexandria Sporting Club and Smouha Sporting Club. Alexandria is also the starting point for the Cross Egypt Challenge, a motorcycle and scooter rally.
Sister Cities
Alexandria is twinned with many cities around the world. This means they share cultural and educational ties. Some of its sister cities include:
- Baltimore, United States
- Catania, Italy
- Durban, South Africa
- Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Shanghai, China
- Thessaloniki, Greece
Images for kids
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Macedon Army, shown on the Alexander Sarcophagus
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One of the pair of Cleopatra's Needles in Alexandria, which were relocated to London and New York in the late 19th century
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Lake Mariout
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Side view of The Temple of Taposiris Magna
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See also
In Spanish: Alejandría para niños
