Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, Alexandria's unique urban,
political and religious organization evolved alongside the numerous
scientific innovations and philosophical expressions that shaped the
city into one of the ancient world's civilizational centres. Located at
the intersection of art and history, this book revisits the former
Egyptian megapolis of Alexandria with the aim of going beyond the usual
depictions of the city - focusing on the Greeks, the Egyptians, the
Lighthouse and the Library - to take a journey of discovery into an
ancient city that is full of nuance.
Several recent discoveries have enabled us to refine our knowledge of
the lost city of Alexandria. By examining the city's multi-layered
temporalities, this book echoes dominant accounts of Alexandria as a
city through which successive civilisations and political formations of
the past (Byzantine, Arab, Modern) have rehearsed visions of futures
that are either no longer present or remain felt through Alexandria's
remaining material culture and built environment. This book also
features a series of contemporary artworks which develop a critical and
poetic association with the themes it covers.
Exhibition Schedule:
BOZAR, Center for Fine Arts, Brussels: 29/09/2022 - 08/01/2023
MUCEM, Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée,
Marseille 08/02/2022 - 08/05/2023
