William La Riche

And God abandoned Antony.

Alexandria, city of legend. City of the greatest library the world has ever seen. City of the most famous lighthouse in human history. City that betrayed Pompey. City of Cleopatra. City of Antony's downfall.

It's as though Alexandria was doomed the minute it allowed the Romans to intervene in its affairs. The library burned, Caracalla ordered a general slaughter of its young male inhabitants, and a 4th century seismic wave destroyed the waterfont. The famous Pharos lighthouse managed to remain standing until a series of quakes in the 1300s eventually brought it down.

This book is really about the expedition to find some of the ancient wonders of the world, which sit in the destroyed harbour of ancient Alexandria. While the modern Egyptian city is there to assist the adventure, the book focuses on the great puzzles sitting in sand just off the East Port. The photographs are stunning, showing shimmering blue water against the resting brown statues on the Mediterranean floor. Here was history made.

...say goodbye to her, to the Alexandria you are losing.

Book Season = Summer (sun, sand, sphinxes)… (meer)