Mediterranean filled the northern haven, the southern walls were
washed by the Mareotic lake. If the isle of Pharos shone dazzling
white, and wearied the eyes, there was shade beneath the long marble
colonnades, and in the groves and cool halls of the Museum and the
Libraries. The Etesian winds blew fresh in summer from the north,
across the sea, and refreshed the people in their gardens. No town
seemed greater nor wealthier to the voyager, who (like the hero of
the Greek novel Clitophon and Leucippe) entered by the gate of the
Sun, and found that, after nightfall, the torches borne by men and
women hastening to some religious feast, filled the dusk with a light
like that of 'the sun cut up into fragments.' At the same time no
town was more in need of the memories of the country, which came to
her in well-watered gardens, in landscape-paintings, and in the verse
of Theocritus.

It is impossible to give a clearer idea of the opulence and luxury of
Alexandria and her kings, than will be conveyed by the description of
the coronation-feast of Ptolemy Philadelphus. This great masquerade
and banquet was prepared by the elder Ptolemy on the occasion of his
admitting his son to share his throne. The entertainment was
described (in a work now lost) by Callixenus of Rhodes, and the
record has been preserved by Atheneaus (v. 25). The inner pavilion
in which the guests of Ptolemy reclined, contained one hundred and
thirty-five couches. Over the roof was placed a scarlet awning, with
a fringe of white, and there were many other awnings, richly
embroidered with mythological designs. The pillars which sustained
the roof were shaped in the likeness of palm-trees, and of thyrsi,
the weapons of the wine-god Dionysus. Round three outer sides ran
arcades, draped with purple tissues, and with the skins of strange
beasts. The fourth side, open to the air, was shady with the foliage