The BA Concludes the Exhibition “Alexander the Great: Back to Egypt”
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The Bibliotheca Alexandrina concluded the exhibition “Alexander the Great: Back to Egypt,” which was held from 13 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, under the patronage of the Greek Embassy in Cairo, the Greek Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Interior, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the National Academy of Sciences.
Ms. Heba El-Rafey, Acting Head of the External Relations and Media Sector, delivered the opening speech on behalf of Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, noting that the exhibition is a unique cultural event through which the Library showcased a collection of artworks by Greek artist and architect Makis Warlamis, which depicted the character of Alexander the Great, carrying messages of tolerance, creative coexistence, and cooperation among peoples.
She pointed out that Egyptian-Greek relations have a historical depth stretching back thousands of years, emphasizing that the strength of these relations is embodied today in artistic and literary exchanges, academic cooperation, and joint efforts to preserve human heritage.
Mr. Ioannis Pyrgakis, Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, said that this special cultural event calls for a reinterpretation of the past as a key to the future.
He stated that the works of artist Makis Warlamis presented Alexander the Great as a renewed humanitarian concept that embodied a vision based on curiosity, openness, and creativity.
For his part, Right Reverend Archimandrite Damaskinos Alazrai, Archbishop of the Diocese of Mariout for the Greek Orthodox, spoke on behalf of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, explaining that this unique exhibition evokes a number of historical milestones associated with the ancient city of Alexandria, which Alexander the Great founded to be a capital of cultural convergence, not domination.
Prof. Hassan Badawi, Professor of Philosophy at the Department of Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Medieval History, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, gave a lecture entitled "Egyptian-Greek Relations throughout History: From Cultural Convergence to Contemporary Partnership," which was moderated by Dr. Al-Hussein Abdel Bassir, Director of the BA Antiquities Museum.