Alexandria

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Alexandria, Egypt: Qāʾit Bāy, citadel of

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Alexandria

Egypt

Also known as: Al-Iskandariyyah

Written by J. Alan Mackie, Michael J. Reimer•All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 7, 2024 • Article History

Arabic:: Al-Iskandariyyah

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Alexandria, major city and urban muḥāfaẓah (governorate) in Egypt. Once among the greatest cities of the Mediterranean world and a centre of Hellenic scholarship and science, Alexandria was the capital of Egypt from its founding by Alexander the Great in 332 bce until its surrender to the Arab forces led by ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ in 642 ce. One of Egypt’s largest cities, Alexandria is also its principal seaport and a major industrial centre. The city lies on the Mediterranean Sea at the western edge of the Nile River delta, about 114 miles (183 km) northwest of Cairo in Lower Egypt. ...(100 of 4897 words)

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