Friday, December 31, 2010
Day 3
I've heard of Alexander the Great the big name since I was a child. Never imagine I would have the opportunity to visit Alexandria founded by Alexander III of Macedon in the year 332BC. We travelled by coach to Alexandria. It is also known as the most important Mediterranean centre and the principal port of Egypt. The downtown of Alexandria looks almost very similar to Cairo city. Busy as a bee, horrible traffic and very dusty. Whereas the uptown looks pretty cool with nice scenery and not as hectic.
Our first visiting station was the Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa meaning "Mount of Shards or Potsherds". It is consider as one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. The underground tomb consists of series of Alexandrian tombs, artifacts and statues which has both features of Hellenistic and the early Imperial Roman influences merging with Egyptian culture style. So you can see some of the statue were in Egyptian style yet they bear Roman clothes and hairstyle. There are 3 parts but we only managed to see till the second level as the third level was closed due to the rise of the water. Again no cameras allowed here. However, I've sneak in and took some pictures with my sista's handphone! Illegal pictures :)
After a quick visit to the tomb, we went to visit the Pompey's Pillar, a huge granite pillar dating back to the 297 CE/AD. It is a Roman trimphal column and largest of its type constructed outside of the imperial capitals of Rome and Constantinople. What it is built for? Probably to commemorate the victory of Rome Empire over Alexandrian revolt.
