Denocrates, a Macedonian architect, who proposed to Alexander to cut Mount Athos in the form of a statue holding a city in one hand, and in the other a bason, into which all the waters of the mountain should empty themselves, was employed by that monarch to build and beautify Alexandria.  Its site was on a deep and secure bay, formed by the shore on the one side, and the island of Pharos on the other; in this bay numerous fleets might lie in perfect safety, protected from the winds and waves.  The form in which the city was built was that of a Macedonian chlamys, or cloak; the two ports, one of which only was built by Alexander, though both (as has been already observed) were projected by him, were formed and divided from each other by a moat a mile long, which stretched from the isle of Pharos to the continent:  that harbour which lay to the north was called the Great Harbour, and the other, to the west, was called Eunostus, or the Safe Return.  In order to secure the vessels from the storms of the Mediterranean, even more effectually than they could be by the natural advantages of these harbours, the piers on each side were bent like a bar, so that only a small space was left for the entrance of vessels.

The successors of Alexander in the Egyptian empire followed his example, in nourishing commerce and improving Alexandria.  Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, as soon as he took possession of Egypt, established the seat of government there, and succeeded, partly by harsh and despotic measures, and partly by offering great advantages, and by his just and humane character, to draw thither a great number of inhabitants.  He began, and his son completed, the famous watch-tower in the island of Pharos; the causeway which united it to the main land, already mentioned, was built by Dexiphanes.  Sostratus, the son of this architect, was employed to erect the watch-tower:  the design of this tower was to direct the vessels which entered the harbour, and it was justly reckoned one of the wonders of the world.  It was a large and square structure of white marble, on the top of which fires were constantly kept burning for the direction of sailors.  The building of this tower cost 800 talents, which, if they were Attic talents, were equivalent to 165,000_l_. sterling, but if they were Alexandrian, to double that sum.  This stupendous and most useful undertaking was completed in the fortieth year of the reign of Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, and in first year of the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus; and at the same time that Sostratus finished it, his father, Dexiphanes, finished the mole, which united the island of Pharos to the continent.  The inscription on the tower was, “King Ptolemy to the Gods, the saviours, for the benefit of sailors;” but Sostratus put this inscription on the mortar, while underneath he cut, in the solid marble, the following inscription, “Sostratus the Cnidian, son of Dexiphanes, to the Gods, the saviours, for the benefit of sailors.”  In process of time the mortar wore off, the first inscription disappeared along with it, and the second inscription became visible.