Egypt
Alexander the Great enters Egypt, where he is hailed as a liberator. He sacrifices to the gods at Memphis.
April
Alexandria, Egypt founded by Alexander the Great.
April
Alexander the Great returns to Memphis and is informed that the oracles at Didama and Erythrai proclaimed him a son of Zeus.
June 30
Partition of Babylon. Abydos and Adramytteion come under control of Leonnatos. Egypt with Alexandria and Gaza are under Ptolemy. Baktria comes under Seleukos I Nikator.
Ptolemy I declares himself Pharaoh and moves his capital to Alexandria.
Ptolemy II takes power in Alexandria. He is believed to have founded the Library of Alexandria.
Julius Caesar arrives in Alexandria and supports Kleopatra VII over her brother, Ptolemy XIII.
Julius Caesar lays siege to Alexandria.
Octavian (later Augustus) enters Alexandria and annexes Egypt into the Roman Empire. Cleopatra VII commits suicide, ending the Ptolemaic Dynasty.
Violence between Jews and Greeks in Alexandria over the visit of King Agrippa I results in numerous synagogues being desecrated.
Approximate year of the death of Philo,a reknowned Jewish Philosopher, in Alexandria.
The Diaspora Revolt results in major damage to Alexandria and the near annihilation of its Jewish community. Hadrian uses the occasion to rebuild the city.
Emperor Marcus Aurelius visits Alexandria and addresses the city’s citizens during his reign.
Caracalla visits Alexandria and feels insulted by the locals, so he orders all men of arms-bearing age to be executed.
Queen Zenobia of Palmyra briefly controls Egypt, including Alexandria, during her revolt against Rome, but Emperor Aurelian recaptures the city later that year.
The Arian controversy begins, with the priest Arius in Alexandria challenging orthodox Christian teachings about the nature of Christ. This theological debate has widespread implications for Christianity across the Roman Empire.
Council of Nicaea is convened by Constantine to address the Arian controversy. Athanasius, a key figure from Alexandria, emerges as a defender of orthodox Christianity against Arianism.
Athanasius becomes Bishop of Alexandria, playing a central role in the Arian controversy and in shaping early Christian doctrine.
Constans and Constantius II hold the Council of Serdica to settle a dispute over the bishop Athanasius of Alexandria. There is no agreement.
Constantius II and Constans nearly start a civil war, until Constantius allows Athanasius to return to his position in Alexandria.
Athanasius is exiled from Alexandria by Emperor Constantius II due to his opposition to Arianism.
July 21
An earthquake destroys Aptera, Gortyna, Eleutherna, and Knossos on Crete. Alexandria is devastated by a tsunami, and Kyrene is also affected by the same tsunami.
Athanasius dies in Alexandria, leaving a lasting legacy as a defender of Nicene Christianity against Arianism.
Theophilus, the Patriarch of Alexandria, orders the destruction of pagan temples in Alexandria, including the Serapeum, as part of the rising Christian influence and suppression of paganism following Emperor Theodosius I’s edicts against pagan worship.