As part of the celebrations marking the founding anniversary of the city of Alexandria, and in affirmation of its status as a vibrant global city rich in civilization, Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Eng. Ayman Attia, Governor of Alexandria, and Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inaugurated the exhibition “Twenty Years of Excavations in Shallalat Gardens (2006–2026)”, organized by the Antiquities Museum at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in cooperation with the Hellenic Institute for Alexandrian Civilization Research. The exhibition highlights an important chapter in Alexandria’s history across the ages.
The attendees toured the exhibition sections, which showcase the outcomes of two decades of archaeological excavations conducted by the Hellenic Institute. The exhibition reveals new evidence about the history and geography of ancient Alexandria in the Shallalat Gardens area, along with discoveries that shed light on the city’s development during its various historical phases.
Among the exhibition’s most notable artifacts are a Hellenistic statue believed to represent Alexander the Great, the remains of a large public building, part of a major Roman road, a section of the Hellenistic royal road, and a large underground tunnel. Together, these discoveries provide an integrated vision of the topography of Alexandria’s ancient royal district.
These discoveries constitute a valuable addition to understanding the urban and civilizational history of Alexandria. The exhibition presents new insights into the development of one of the Mediterranean’s most important cities and emphasizes the importance of long-term archaeological research in reconstructing its past.
Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa praised the distinguished artifacts displayed at the Antiquities Museum, noting that they reflect the succession of civilizations throughout history. He emphasized that the Bibliotheca Alexandrina represents a unique cultural and scientific institution that contributes to enhancing civilizational dialogue and promoting archaeological awareness.
The Minister also commended the library’s commitment to utilizing the latest museum display techniques, in addition to the educational and cultural programs it offers to strengthen appreciation of national heritage among all age groups. He further noted that these programs play an important role in promoting archaeological awareness and reinforcing national identity.
In his remarks, Eng. Ayman Attia stressed that celebrating the city’s founding day serves as a renewed affirmation of Alexandria’s identity as a meeting point of civilizations and cultures. He pointed out that the exhibition reflects a deep awareness of the value of heritage and embodies the pioneering role of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in documenting the city’s civilizational memory and presenting it scientifically to future generations.
He added that the results of the excavations in Shallalat Gardens contribute to redrawing the features of the ancient royal district and further enhance Alexandria’s position on the map of global archaeological research, affirming the governorate’s continued support for cooperation with international research institutions.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Zayed affirmed that the exhibition “Twenty Years of Excavations in Shallalat Gardens,” inaugurated today at the Antiquities Museum, represents one of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s ongoing efforts in Hellenistic studies, given their close connection to the establishment of the ancient city of Alexandria and its historic library.
The Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina explained that the exhibition presents the outcome of more than two decades of archaeological excavations in the Shallalat Gardens area of Alexandria. These exhibits shed light on the geography of the ancient city throughout its historical stages, underscoring Alexandria’s nature as a multicultural city.
The inauguration was attended by Dr. Amira Yassin, Deputy Governor of Alexandria; Ambassador Nikolaos Papageorgiou, Ambassador of Greece in Cairo; Mr. Ioannis Peryakis, Consul General of Greece in Alexandria; Dr. Mona Haggag, President of the Alexandria Archaeological Society; Ms. Calliope Limneos Papakosta, Director of the Hellenic Institute for Alexandrian Civilization Research; a number of ambassadors and consuls; members of the House of Representatives and Senate; senior religious, security, and executive officials in the governorate; as well as a distinguished group of executive, academic, and archaeological leaders.
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