Introduction: Alexandrian Memoryscapes

This paper examines, by way of an introduction to this section, the concept of “memoryscapes” within the urban and cultural fabric of ancient Alexandria. By analysing texts, monuments, and funerary art, the text explores how the city was perceived as a site of wonder, grandeur, and collective memory in the late Hellenistic and early Imperial periods. The author illuminates how Alexandria’s urban landscape functioned as a “landscape of memory,” continuously shaping and being shaped by its inhabitants’ historical consciousness and cultural identity. These memoryscapes, both tangible and intangible, intertwine physical spaces with rituals and artistic expressions, preserving collective memory while adapting to evolving cultural narratives.