The
Greco-Roman Museum of Alexandria in Egypt was created in 1892. It was first
built in an 5-roomapartment, inside one small building in Rosetta Street (later
Avenue Canope and nowadays Horriya). In 1895, it was transferred to another
building that only had eleven rooms. More rooms were added later to this
building, now locatednear Gamal Abdul Nasser Street.
There are a
lot of pieces from the 3rd century BC, like a nice sculpture of Apis in black
granite, the sacred bull of the Egyptians, mummies, sarcophagus, tapestries,
and a lot of objects and sculptures that offer us a view of graeco-roman
civilization in contact with Egypt. The museum is currently closed for
renovation.
Its
vast collection, gathered together over these hundred years, is the product of
donations from wealthy Alexandrians as well as of excavations led by successive
directors of the institution, both within the town and in its environs. Certain
other objects have come from the Organization of Antiquities at Cairo
(particularly those of the Pharaonic period) and from various digs undertaken at
the be¬ginning of the century in The Fayoum and at Benhasa (Middle Egypt).
Housed within an historic building (back cover) whose beautiful neo-classical
facade of six columns and pediment bears the large Greek inscription,
‘MOYΣEION’, the Museum consists of27 halls and an attractive garden, which
offer an excellent introduction to the Greek and Roman art of Egypt.