Then , after Alexander 's death in 323 b.c. , Cleomenes took control of the country under the name Ptolemy I. The new city of Alexandria , located on the Mediterranean coast , became the base for the Ptolemaic control of Egypt and the cultural capital of Europe , and Thebes finally lost its influence .
Alexandria and Thebes , both influential cities , coexisted as pillars of Egyptian society throughout the rule of Ptolemy .