of that illustrious monarch not confining it’s views to the land,
being fully aware how conducive a maritime intercourse between
the remotest parts would be to his grand object of uniting all nations
under one head, and confirming their union by assimilating
their manners. The celebrated Dinocrates, who had acquired the
highest reputation by rebuilding the temple of Diana at Ephesus,
was employed by Alexander for constructing this city. One street
of great width intersected it in a straight line from north to south,
and was crossed by another equally spacious from east to west.
These were decorated by magnificent houses, temples, and public
buildings, displaying a profusion of marble and porphyry, destined
at a future period to embellish the two capitals of the roman
empiré. Parallel to these ran other streets of inferiour thouOgh
not confined dimensions, leaving a free passage to the wind, particularly
from thé north, which alone conveys coolness and salubrity
into Egypt. A mole, near a mile in length, stretched from
the continent to the island of Pharos opposite the city, and divided
the harbour into two. On this island was erected the famous
lighthouse, begun by Ptolemy Soter, and finished in the reign
of his son Ptolemy Philadelphus. I t was a square tower of several
stories, with a lantern at the top, the light of which might be seen
for many leagues ; and cost eight hundred talents, being adorned
with columns, balustrades, and galleries of the finest marble, and
exquisitely wrought. Sostrates of Cnidos was the architect. In
the great harbour was the island of Antirhodes, on which stood a
theatre and a place of royal residence. In the eastern part of the
city was a gymnasium, with porticoes of more than six hundred