Antiquities

The Greco-Roman Museum in الإسكندرية stands as a prominent cultural landmark devoted to preserving and presenting the rich heritage of Egypt during the Greek and Roman periods. Its origins date back to the late 19th century, when the Italian scholar Giuseppe Botti began efforts in 1889 to protect الإسكندرية’s antiquities from neglect and destruction. Officially established in 1892 and initially housed in a modest rented building, the museum soon required a larger home, leading to the construction of its neoclassical building inaugurated in 1895. This elegant structure, with its grand six-column façade and historical architectural significance, reflects the cultural revival and archaeological enthusiasm that blossomed around الإسكندرية at that time.

Today, the museum impresses with a vast collection spread across 27 halls, exhibiting more than 6,000 artefacts that reveal the fascinating fusion of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures. Visitors can journey through الإسكندرية’s ancient past, encountering pieces from the time of Alexander the Great, who founded the city in 332 BC, and subsequent Ptolemaic and Roman rulers. Highlights include statues of deities, remarkable mosaics depicting mythological and everyday scenes, and intricately crafted Tanagra figurines that capture details of ancient fashion and customs. These exhibits provide a vivid insight into the artistic skills and cultural life of one of the Mediterranean’s most cosmopolitan cities.

Central to the museum’s collection are significant archaeological treasures such as the statue of the Apis Bull in black granite from the Ptolemaic era, which attests to the religious traditions of the time. Alongside, numerous busts of Roman emperors and Greek philosophers emphasise الإسكندرية’s importance as a centre of learning, political power, and cultural exchange. The collection also includes everyday items and coins that paint a fuller picture of life in the Greco-Roman period, bridging remarkable connections between ancient Egypt’s native traditions and the classical civilizations that dominated the Mediterranean.

After a lengthy closure for extensive renovations, which lasted nearly two decades, the Greco-Roman Museum reopened recently, rejuvenated to meet modern conservation standards and visitor expectations. The improved facility now offers a compelling new layout and enhanced display scenarios that bring the ancient world vividly to life. Its enduring role extends beyond tourism, serving as a vital research hub that illuminates الإسكندرية’s layered history while preserving this unique cultural heritage for future generations. Visitors to the museum gain a rare and enriching perspective on the entwined histories of Egypt, Greece, and Rome as manifested in this extraordinary Mediterranean crossroads.

Greco-Roman Museum
الإسكندرية
Egypt