A FASCINATING BUT VIOLENT CITY: THE DESCRIPTION OF ALEXANDRIA IN THE EXPOSITIO TOTIUS MUNDI ET GENTIUM

Abstract

In this article, we present the Portuguese version and commentary of the description of Alexandria in the anonymous work Expositio Totius Mundi et Gentium. Relevant text for the study of the economy, politics and society of the Late Roman Empire, here Alexandria appears characterized as a prosperous and rich city, providing food supplies and exclusive resources like the papyrus, a city of sciences and intellectual men, a pious city to the plural gods the re worshiped. Nevertheless, she is an incomprehensible city, because Alexandrine people tend to rebellion and conflict against legal authorities. Our objective is, with the analysis of the text and comparing it with other historical sources about Late Roman Egypt, to point out new data regarding the date of composition of the text, clarifying the historical references therein mentioned.