Coastal cities overlooking the sea have a unique taste, starting from the ease of planning their main streets as a parallel strip to the sea, branching out into longitudinal and transverse streets. This makes it easy to navigate and difficult to get lost while wandering their streets. They also serve as geographical boundaries with other cities facing them, which gives them a different advantage as fortified strongholds in case of war, God forbid. Among these ancient cities that were once owned by the great warrior Alexander the Great - a student of Aristotle - is the city of Alexandria in the Arab Republic of Egypt, which was a unique model for combining the two great Eastern and Western civilizations into one civilization that captivated the world.

Alexander the Great traveled eastward, where he crushed the Persians and continued his progress to Afghanistan and India. He then went back a little to meet his sudden death in the city of Babylon in Iraq in 323 BC, for reasons that still puzzle scientists to this day. His generals then divided his great empire, with the cunning commander Ptolemy taking Alexandria as the capital of his kingdom after naming it after his master and commander, who ordered its construction.

In this ancient city, there are countless tales and stories. The author takes us on an enjoyable journey to learn about some of the tales of the righteous saints, the Khawajas, the Talaynas, the stories of Daniel, and the supposed tomb of Alexander located in this ancient street – the street of the Prophet Daniel. The author also talks about the Moroccans who occupied a significant part of the memories of this city, the most famous of whom is Al-Mursi Abu Al-Abbas – the head of the righteous saints and the owner of the shrine located inside the mosque bearing the same name. Next to it is the mosque of his disciple Yaqut Al-Arsh, who owns the mosque named after him. Also, there is Sidi Al-Shatby, who came from the Andalusian city of Shatba, and Sidi Mohammed Bin Rahal Al-Ajmi – the enemy of women, the owner of one of the most important coastal beaches in the city during the 1980s and early 1990s. He was raised by his father's wife, who was extremely harsh on him. He came from Morocco intending to perform the Hajj and died in Alexandria, where he was buried in a shrine within the Dakhila Port. There is also Sidi Al-Qabari, an Alexandrian by origin and upbringing, who lent his name to a famous and ancient district in the city, and many other names that cannot be mentioned in this article.

There are many songs of the Alexandrian popular heritage that say: "Read the Fatiha for Abu Al-Abbas, O Alexandria, O bravest people, and the second Fatiha for Sidi Yaqut, and whoever opposes us will die. The third Fatiha is for Abu Al-Dardar, and whoever opposes us will burn in fire." This folklore is associated with the names of the most important righteous personalities of that era, who wove a heritage that remains engraved in the minds of the public to this day.

The writer then moves on to discuss the saints and dignitaries of Alexandria, starting with the Christian Saint St. Stephen, one of the most important martyrs of Christianity, whose body was later transferred to Rome, where a cathedral bearing his name was built, making it one of the largest and oldest circular churches in Rome. She then moves on to discuss the martyr St. Mina, whose miracles were countless, as he refused to bow down to idols and was ordered to be beheaded at the age of 24. She also tells stories of his encounters with the young Saint Muriot in an area known as King Muriot, at the entrance of Alexandria.

The ancient city did not stop there; its influence extended to the dignitaries of Alexandria, starting with Nicolae Acasimats, owner of the "Minerva" chain of stores in the heart of Ramleh Station, who held the first tax record for a foreign community in Egypt. There was also the Greek dignitary Zizinia, a friend and associate of Muhammad Ali Pasha, who settled in the city and became one of the largest cotton traders. The discussion then moves on to the Greek Antoniadis, who owned the largest palace of that time, similar to the Palace of Versailles in France, which hosted the heads of seven countries on its vast 50-acre estate.

The history of the city is endless, as it was also a cradle of free trade, where the Greek dignitary Genaklis, coming from Macedonia, became one of the most important and largest tobacco and alcohol traders. He also founded the Greek Association in Cairo, which still exists to this day, supporting the Greek community in Egypt and connecting them culturally and socially with their homeland. In addition, the ancient city is associated with sports activities in the heart of the Camp Shizar area, home to the Nubar Sports Club, founded by Boghos Bey, son of Nubar Pasha, the first prime minister of Egypt from Armenia. This simple basketball club is evidence of unity among people of different races and backgrounds.

Finally, if you decide to travel to the city of Alexandria via the agricultural road, you are in for a treat, seeing white Greek statues, reminiscent of snow, preserving the historical credit of the Greeks in establishing the delightful city of "Smouha", named in honor of the Iraqi Jewish man, Smouha, who came from Babylon to establish one of the most important and prestigious neighborhoods in the eastern part of Alexandria.

The book in your hands is a historical encyclopedia for every inch of the city of Alexander the Great. The writer Soheir Abdel Hamid has made a tremendous effort to chronicle the history of this ancient city in a small book that does not exceed 160 pages.