I begin to pray to Poseidon for good fortune and safety while out at sea but, before I finished my prayer, I heard the most un-peculiar sound, across from me a man speaking a language I had never heard before and a Greek man were arguing. The Greek man also spoke the mystery language and they both shouted until finally the mystery man conceded and handed the Greek man coinage then promptly left. I approached the Greek man and asked, “What is that language you spoke and why were you arguing?”, the Greek man turns to me and says, “It is none of your business, but if you must know that man spoke Hebrew and it is common among the Jewish people in this city. As for the argument, the man was trying to pay for my wares by offering prayer, but prayer doesn’t keep my family fed.” In response to this I ask, “How did you manage to learn to speak this language, and where are these people from?” The Greek man sighs and says, “I was raised in this city and my closest friends are devoted to the Jewish synagogue. As for where these people came from, I do not know, if you really want to know try asking one of them in the upper right corner of the city, that is where they reside.” The Greek man then packs up his wares and promptly leaves. I decide to take the advice of the [1]man and head to the upper right of the city intrigued, distracted, and in search of answers.

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[1] ancient-alexandria-map.jpg (1200×875) (planetware.com)

Map of Pharos Island and Alexandria