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●○Background of the Alexander period○●
The founding of Alexandria stemmed from the wishes and ambitions of Alexander the Great, ruler of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia, who aspired to build a great city named after himself to become the center of the new Greek civilization, and in 332 BC, Alexander the Great led an army to conquer Egypt, he chose a seaside site in the Nile Delta region as an ideal location for the construction of a new city.
And this was not only to satisfy Alexander the Great's personal ambitions, but also to demonstrate his power and the strength of the kingdom, he hired some of the most famous architects and engineers to design and build the city, using the most advanced construction techniques and engineering methods of the time, making Alexandria one of the wonders of the ancient world.
The city's plan adopted a unique pattern that combined Greek and Egyptian architectural styles and elements, and at the center of the city was a huge square called Alexanderplatz, which was the political, commercial and cultural center of the city, surrounded by magnificent buildings, temples, libraries and theaters, demonstrating Alexander the Great's pursuit of art and knowledge.
Alexandria's streets are wide and straight, with a regular layout, ensuring the hygiene and convenience of the city through a well-designed drainage system, and the city's port, one of the largest in the Mediterranean, became an important trading center, attracting merchants and travelers from different countries and regions.
The construction of the city also involved a large amount of labor and resources, tens of thousands of workers were mobilized to build the city's buildings and infrastructure, and large quantities of stone, marble and other building materials were transported to the construction site for the construction of magnificent buildings and sculptures.
The establishment of Alexandria is not only an urban planning and construction project, but also a manifestation of cultural exchange and integration, Alexandria attracts people from Greece, Egypt and other regions, who bring their own culture, customs and arts, making Alexandria a diverse and open city.
●○Alexander's connection with Egypt○●
There are close ties between Alexander and Egypt, which involve political, economic, cultural and social aspects, and the establishment of the city of Alexandria is one of the important symbols of Alexander's close relationship with Egypt, which Alexander the Great occupied Egypt in 332 BC.
Subsequently, Alexandria was established near the mouth of the Nile River and became the capital of Alexander's empire, located on the Mediterranean coast, strategically located connecting trade and cultural exchanges between East and West, which made Alexandria a multicultural meeting place, where Egyptian and Greek cultures were intertwined.
The establishment of Alexandria not only strengthened Egypt's ties with the outside world, but also had a profound impact on Egyptian society, becoming an important commercial center, attracting merchants, travelers and immigrants from all over the world, who brought new ideas, arts, and technologies to promote the development and transformation of Egyptian society.
At the same time, Alexandria also became a treasure trove of knowledge, establishing the Library and Museum of Alexandria, which collected a large number of documents and works of art, attracting many scholars and artists.
The exchange between Egypt and Greek culture during Alexander's time was also close, Alexander the Great encouraged Greek immigrants to come to Egypt and promoted the spread of Greek culture in Egypt, and Greek became one of the official languages of Egypt at that time.
The Egyptian upper class also gradually accepted the influence of Greek culture, and Greek architecture, art, and philosophy were widely developed in Alexandria and other Egyptian cities, for example, the use of Greek columns can be seen in the architecture of Alexandria, and the Greek style of sculpture and painting appeared in works of art.
At the same time, Egyptian culture also had a profound impact on Alexandria, Egyptian religious beliefs, myths and legends and artistic styles penetrated into Alexander's culture, and the gods and symbols of Egyptian mythology often appeared in Alexander's artwork.
During the Alexander period, the establishment of Alexandria became an important link between Egypt and Greece cultural exchange, Alexandria is considered a multicultural city, attracting people from different backgrounds, including Egyptians, Greeks, Jews, Romans, etc., this multicultural existence provides a rich soil for cultural integration and exchange during the Alexander period.
Alexandria's geographical location made it an important trading center in the Mediterranean, which also facilitated Egypt's exchanges with other regions, and merchants, tourists and scholars came to Alexandria, bringing about a collision of different cultures and ideas, which had a profound impact in the fields of language, art, philosophy, science and so on.
In terms of art, Alexandria brings together artists and craftsmen from Egypt and Greece, they influence and learn from each other, and integrate Egyptian and Greek artistic styles, and in the architecture of Alexandria you can see that the Egyptian temple style combined with the Greek column structure to form a unique architectural style, painting, sculpture and other art forms have also been double-influenced, creating innovative and unique works.
Cultural exchange also played an important role in the fields of religion, philosophy and scholarship, and the Library of Alexandria became one of the most important academic centers in the ancient world, attracting scholars and wise men, bringing together famous scholars from different cultures and backgrounds, who studied and exchanged various learnings, Greek philosophy, Egyptian mythology, Eastern wisdom and other ideas blended and influenced each other to form new doctrines and concepts.
The Alexander period also witnessed the linguistic exchange of different cultures, where Egyptian hieroglyphs and Greek alphabets met, resulting in mixed scripts and new ways of writing, which provided new avenues for literature, historical records and cultural inheritance, bringing cultures closer together.
●○ Concept and image of the Egyptian bride ○●
The Egyptian bride refers to a specific female figure that appeared during the Alexander period (332 BC to 30 BC), she represented an aesthetic standard and cultural characteristic in Egyptian society at that time, the Egyptian bride was given many specific definitions and symbolisms, she was both a beautiful embodiment of an external image and a symbol of inner quality and individuality.
From the outside, Egyptian brides are usually depicted as graceful and delicate women, their skin often appears bronzed or light black, which is related to Egypt's geographical location and sunny climate, their facial features usually have typical Egyptian characteristics, such as narrow eyes, slightly drooping corners of the eyes and slender nose, Egyptian brides' hair is often carefully braided or coiled, with gorgeous headdresses and jewelry decorations, showing their noble and delicate temperament.
The definition of Egyptian brides is not limited to appearance, they are also endowed with many inner qualities and role symbolism, Egyptian brides are often considered the embodiment of wisdom, gentleness and suppleness, they are portrayed as intelligent and wise women with excellent upbringing and keen intelligence, Egyptian brides are also the center of the family and the focus of social life, they are known for their gentle and kind character and are able to handle family and social relations harmoniously.
In addition to personal image and characteristics, Egyptian brides are also regarded as a cultural symbol and a symbol of social status, in the Egyptian society of the Alexander period, women played an important role in family and social life, Egyptian brides represented the status and power of women, their existence and image expressed the importance and value of women in society, they were endowed with a mysterious and attractive charm, becoming the object of pursuit and imitation of women at all levels of society at that time.
●○The aesthetic standards of Egyptian brides ○●
The aesthetic standards of Egyptian brides exhibited unique characteristics during the Alexandrian period, when Egyptian brides were seen as symbols of beauty, elegance and mystery, and their appearance and demeanor were considered charming and attractive, and the aesthetic standards of Egyptian brides focused on the curvy beauty of the figure and the soft features of the face.
Their figures were required to be curved and full, and full breasts, plump hips, and narrow waist lines were considered symbols of femininity, and the pursuit of this figure reflected the importance that society attached to women's fertility and health at that time, and also reflected the Egyptian pursuit of artistic beauty of the body.
The facial features of Egyptian brides are given a soft and gentle image, their eyes are emphasized as large and bright, sometimes enhanced by black eyeliner, high noses and plump lips are also seen as attractive features, in addition, long hair is often seen as the charm of Egyptian brides, they often comb their hair into elaborate hairstyles or decorate them with headscarves or headdresses to add mystery and charm.
The aesthetic standards of Egyptian brides are also reflected in their dress and decoration, they like to wear silk and thin clothing, usually in white or bright colors, clothing is usually close and fit the body, highlighting the curvy beauty of the figure, jewelry and jewelry are an indispensable part of Egyptian bridal dress, they like to wear gold and silver jewelry, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, the beauty and magnificence of these jewelry highlights their status and wealth.
The costumes and decorations of Egyptian brides showcased a strong Egyptian cultural identity during the Alexander period, and their costumes were rich and varied, characterized by exquisite details and ornate ornaments.
Egyptian brides' attire often consisted of a robe-like tunic, loose and ornate, often made of light linen or satin, brightly colored and glamorous, they liked to use a lot of pleats and flowing materials to add elegance, these robes were often decorated with elaborate embroidery, wire thread and precious stones to create a palatial effect.
Egyptian brides' attire also included headdresses and jewelry, which played a crucial role in their appearance, often as ornate and intricate as metal headdresses, feathers and jewelry combinations, or headbands decorated with flowers and ribbons, which both accentuated their noble status and added feminine femininity.
In terms of jewelry, Egyptian brides like to wear a large number of necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings, which are often made of metal, precious stones and precious shells, and their magnificence is amazing, Egyptian brides are particularly fond of snake-shaped necklaces because in Egyptian culture, snakes symbolize wisdom and mystery.
Egyptian brides' decorations also included face painting and body tattoos, where they preferred to use mineral pigments to draw flowers, geometric patterns and artistic eyeliner, while body tattoos were often painted with black or red pigments, with symbols and charms as the theme to protect and add charm.
●○ is written at the end ○●
Egyptian brides' costumes and decorations highlight their noble status and pursuit of beauty, and they like to use gorgeous fabrics and delicate ornaments to show their personality and charm through unique details and creative designs.