Short list of recommended resources for Alexander/Alexandria

This list is for those who would like to do a little background research for the upcoming program about Alexander and Alexandria, but don't have much time. The emphasis is on resources that are concise, easily accessible in a variety of formats, and aimed at a general (rather than scholarly) audience.

There are, of course, innumerable biographies of Alexander the Great, but if you are looking for a short, readable, and lavishly illustrated introduction to his life and historical impact, try Alexander the Great: Son of the Gods by Alan Fildes and Joann Fletcher (Paperback, 2004; 176pp).  Alexander’s life has also been the subject of many TV and video documentaries, of variable quality.  The History Channel’s The True Story of Alexander the Great (2004; 2hrs 30min; available on Netflix) gives a reasonably balanced account drawing on both ancient and modern sources with high-quality production values.

Alexandria: Jewel of Egypt by Jean-Yves Empereur (part of the excellent Discoveries series) provides a concise, but richly illustrated, overview of Alexandria’s history from its founding in 331 BCE to its modern role as Egypt’s second city and includes selected extracts from historical documents and literary sources.  (Paperback, 2002; 158 pp.)  A thorough historical analysis of Alexandria’s role as the center of Hellenistic culture may be found in The Rise and Fall of Alexandria: Birthplace of the Modern World by Justin Pollard and Howard Reid (Paperback, 2006; 329pp; also available in Kindle and Audiobook formats). 

The Egyptology Online website provides a capsule history of the city, while the significance of the ancient Library and its modern re-incarnation are discussed on the travel-oriented site, Sacred Destinations.

If you are planning to purchase any of these items (or other items) through Amazon, you can help Humanities West by entering Amazon through our referral link.  We receive a small percentage of your purchase at no additional cost to you (and all your existing account settings at Amazon are unchanged).

Additional background info on Dr. Serageldin and the new Alexandria Library

The previous post publicized two talks that Dr. Ismail Serageldin, the Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, will be giving at Stanford on Dec. 2nd at Dinkelspiel Auditorium. At 2:00 pm, he will discuss “The New Library of Alexandria: A Beacon of Knowledge.” At 4:00 pm he will deliver a lecture, co-sponsored with the Office of Religious Studies, “For a Better Dialog Between the West and Muslims.” Both programs, and the reception to follow, are open to the public. The following additional information is provided by an email communication of the Stanford University Libraries:

Egyptian Library Visionary to Speak at Stanford

My Credo

• The world is my home
• Humanity is my family
• Non-violence is my creed
• Peace, justice, equality and dignity for all is my purpose
• Engagement, rationality, tolerance, dialogue, learning and understanding are my means

With outstretched hands we welcome all those who share these beliefs . . .

-Ismail Serageldin

Dedicated to recapturing the spirit of openness and scholarship of the original Library of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is truly a modern wonder and has partnered with Stanford in digitization of Arabic-language books, professional development in emerging nations, and other projects....

A dazzling and engaging speaker, Dr. Serageldin has published over 60 books and monographs and over 200 papers on a variety of topics including biotechnology, rural development, sustainability, and the value of science to society. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Cairo University and Master's degree and a PhD from Harvard University and has received 25 honorary doctorates. His Web site contains recent news, presentations and speeches, as well as his numerous services and appointments to world organizations. We urge ReMix readers to seize these opportunities to hear one of the world's foremost librarians and humanitarians. Please contact Sonia Lee if you would like to attend.

Egypt's Bibliotheca Alexandrina, shown above, boasts a spectacular campus on the shore of the Mediterranean, containing specialized libraries; sophisticated digital research and development units; museums of antiquities, manuscripts and the history of science; a planetarium and exploratorium; a cultural panorama; art galleries; academic research centers; conference facilities; resident institutions; and permanent exhibitions.

Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina speaking at Stanford on Dec. 2nd

Dr. Ismail Serageldin, the director of the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, officially inaugurated in 2002, will be delivering two talks at Stanford on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd.

At 2:00 pm: The New Library of Alexandria: A Beacon of Knowledge

[The modern library is an attempt by Egypt and the city of Alexandria to recreate, in spirit if not content, the original Library of Alexandria. The Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt created what was at the time, the world's largest library in the third century BC in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Though historical accounts disagree as to how, why and when, this massive repository of centuries of scholastic work was burned down and lost to the ages.]

At 4:30 pm: For a Better Dialog Between the West and Muslims

The talks will be held at Dinkelspiel Auditorium on the Stanford campus, and are free and open to the public. More information, including maps, is available here.

Please respond by November 25 if you would like to attend
sonialee@stanford.edu, 650-736-9538