The Contribution Archaeological or Written Evidence Have Made to Our Understanding of the Harbour’s Significance in Alexandrian Life and Society
Archaeological excavations and written sources have provided a
significant contribution to the understanding of the Harbour’s impact
within Alexandrian society. The ancient city of Alexandria quickly
became a booming metropolis equal in size to such great cities as Rome
and Athens. Perhaps the main stimulant of this intense and rapid
growth was the Great Harbour that serviced the city. Archaeological
excavations and written commentaries have indeed, aided in confirming
the existence of Alexandria. The cosmopolitan seaport of Alexandria
has accommodated two primary harbours since the 4th century AD, the
Great Harbour (Megas Limin) and the Eunostos, of which the Western one
was the chief commercial centre and the site of the customs house and
numerous warehouses for cotton, grain, sugar and wool. ‘The ports of
Alexandria flourished during the Hellenistic, and the Roman periods up
to the last decade of the 4th century AD.’[1] Indeed, the harbour
established an enclosure as described by Strabo, but was essential in
ensuring Alexandria’s control over Mediterranean trade (therefore
rivalling Rome and Athens) and establishing a significant transhipment
centre. The harbour could indeed create ‘a direct Hellenistic
challenge to the Phoenician maritime and commercial supremacy in the
Mediterranean.’[2] Ultimately, Alexandria’s ‘monopoly of the seas was
assured.’[3] Alexandria’s harbour’s essential purpose was to provide a
spacious enclosure ensuring continual commercial trade.
Written evidence has sugge...
... middle of paper ...
...chaeology.
March/April, pp.38-46
McCann. A.M. (1988) The Roman Port of Cosa. Scientific American:
Ancient Cities. 1994, pp. 92-93
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[1] Tzalas, H.E, The Two Ports of Alexandria,
http://www.greece.org/alexandria/ports/index.htm
[2] Ball, W., Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire,
(2000), London, pp. 171
[3] Ball, W., Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire,
(2000), London, pp. 171
[4] Fraser, P.M, Ptolemaic Alexandria, (1972), Oxford, pp. 5
[5] ibid, pp. 6
[6] ibid, pp. 5
[7] ibid, pp. 9
[8] Empereur, J.Y, Alexandria: Past, Present and Future, London, pp.36
[9] Fraser, P.M, Ptolemaic Alexandria, (1972), Oxford, pp. 21
[10] McCann, A.M., Ancient Cities, New York, pp. 92
[11] ibid
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