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Alexandria's District of
Gamma
The Gamma district was dedicated to the settlement of the Greek commoners.
Plutarch likened the shape of Alexandria to the shape of a Macedonian military cloak.
Laid out in a grid, its design was essentially Greek.
With wide avenues designed for the driving of chariots, it was divided into five districts named after the first five letters in the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon.
Gamma was home to the Greek commoners.
While many Greeks and Egyptians remained aloof from each other, the overall result was the evolution of a widespread Greco- Egyptian culture.
Greeks were always reluctant to tamper with anyone’s religion.
Many natives learned Greek; the Old Testament was even translated into Greek. It was therefore not hard for native Greeks to remain “native” at heart and to implement desired aspects of their culture to their everyday life, while also being able to acclimate to the Egyptian culture and religion.
The fact that Alexandria also enjoyed the benefits of a city law of their own made for the standard of the city to further mark its difference from other lands.
Allowing for both cultures, the Egyptian and the Greek, to simmer in a sort of melting pot of Hellenistic and Egyptian way of life that developed into an Alexandrian style and way of living that allowed for a great number of people to migrate from many Mediterranean lands giving its citizens new opportunities as well as new rights and obligations, not found elsewhere.
For a larger view of this district of Alexandria, click on the picture.
Horus Henuttawy
Credits:
Dr. Alten Müller. 1998. Ägypten Die Weltder Pharaonen.
McKay-Hill. 2004. A History of World Societies.
Background: Roseta Stone →
Images: Egyptian Clip Art→
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