Alexandrian school

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Alexandrian school is a collective designation for certain tendencies in literature, philosophy, medicine, and the sciences that developed in the Hellenistic cultural center of Alexandria, Egypt around the 1st century. Alexandria was a remarkable center of learning due to the blending of Greek and Oriental influences, its favorable situation and commercial resources, and the enlightened energy of some of the Macedonian Dynasty of the Ptolemies ruling over Egypt. Much scholarly work was collected in the great Library of Alexandria during this time.

The name of "Alexandrian school" is also used to describe one of the 2 great schools of biblical interpretation in the early Christian church. They incorporated Greek Pagan philosophical beliefs from Plato's teachings into Christianity (Neoplatonism), and interpreted much of the Bible allegorically. It was established in Alexandria, in the late 2nd century. Many scholars regard Clement as the founder of the Alexandrian school of Christian theology, which emphasized the divine nature of Christ.[citation needed]

[edit] See also