Marcus Julius Alexander

Marcus Julius Alexander was a prominent and wealthy Alexandrian merchant of Jewish descendent. He was born into a wealthy and honorable aristocratic family. His father was Alexander the Alabarch, the famous Alexandrian Jewish financier while his uncle was the philosopher Philo of Alexandria. Marcus was a man with diverse interests, well versed in the Egyptian, Jewish, Greek and Roman cultures, particularly in the traditions of Judaism, the study of the Old Testament and in Greek Philosophy.

Along with his brothers, Marcus played an active role in running a family business. He ran a large business firm which had important business dealings with Arab countries and in India from where he transported goods to Egypt and further to the West. The Petrie Ostraca mentions Marcus’ activities at Red Sea’s ports Myos Hormos and Berenice Troglodytica between 37 and 44 AD.

He married princess Berenice, the daughter of Herod Agrippa who was a close friend of Marcus’ father. The marriage was short lived since Marcus died.