smith's bible dictionary 1884 - Salt Lake Bible College

Alexandria, Or Alexandria
(from Alexander), 3 Ma 3:1; (Acts 18:24; 6:9) the Hellenic, Roman and Christian
capital of Egypt. Situation .— (Alexandria was situated on the Mediterranean Sea directly
opposite the island of Pharos, 12 miles west of the Canopic branch of the Nile
and 120 miles from the present city of Cairo.) It was founded by Alexander the Great,
B.C. 332, who himself traced the ground plan of the city. The work thus begun was
continued after the death of Alexander by the Ptolemies. Description .— Under the
despotism of the later Ptolemies the trade of Alexandria declined, but its population
and wealth were enormous. Its importance as one of the chief corn-ports of Rome secured
for it the general favor of the first emperors. Its population was mixed from the
first. According to Josephus Alexander himself assigned to the Jews a place in his new
city. Philo estimated the number of the Alexandrine Jews in his time at a little less than
1,000,000 and adds that two of the five districts of Alexandria were called “Jewish districts,”
and that many Jews lived scattered in the remaining three. “For a long period
Alexandria was the greatest of known cities.” After Rome became the chief city of the
world, Alexandria ranked second to Rome in wealth and importance, and second to
Athens only in literature and science. Its collection of books grew to be the greatest
library of ancient times, and contained at one time 700,000 rolls or volumes. Here was
made the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek, begun about B.C.
285, especially in grain, was very great. According to the common legend, St. Mark
first “preached the gospel in Egypt, and founded the first church in Alexandria.” At
the beginning of the second century the number of Christians at Alexandria must have
been very large, and the great leaders of Gnosticism who arose there (Basilides,
Valentinus) exhibit an exaggeration of the tendency of the Church. PRESENT CON-
DITION. The city still bears the same name and is a thriving metropolis, with inhabitants
from nearly every European and Oriental nation. Cleopatra’s needle, set up by
Thotmes in 1500 B.C., was found in Alexandria.
Alexandrians
the Jewish colonists of Alexandria, who were admitted to the privileges of citizenship
and had a synagogue at Jerusalem. (Acts 6:9)
Algum Or Almug Trees
the former occurring in (2 Chronicles 2:8; 9:10,11) the latter in (1 Kings 10:11,12)
These words are identical. From (1 Kings 10:11,12; 2 Chronicles 9:10,11) we learn that
the almug was brought in great plenty from Ophir for Solomon’s temple and house,
and for the construction of musical instruments. It is probable that this tree is the red
sandle wood, which is a native of India and Ceylon. The wood is very heavy, hard and
fine grained, and of a beautiful garnet color.
A
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