On the last day of my Alexandria stay-cation, I toured the Roman Amphitheater, reminiscent of ones I explored in Italy. During ancient times, Egypt's plentiful water resources and fertile lands made the country an ideal place to serve as a trade center, and many empires sought to rule it. The Roman rule over Egypt began with the arrival of Augustus in 30 B.C. Gaius Cornelius Gallus was the first Roman prefect of Aegyptus (Aegyptus was the Roman name for the area). Gaius gained control with the use of his soldiers, using the Roman trademark of brute force. The Roman amphitheater was born out of the Romans love for spectator sports, particularly violent gladiator combat exhibitions.
At the top of the hill overlooking the amphitheater, were statue remains found on local dives offshore. It was amazing to see these works of art survive the ravages of time, water, and war. The next stop was the Citadel at Quaitbey Fort. Be sure to check it out on the next blog.
