Described by Cicero as "the greatest of the Greek cities, and the most beautiful of all," and celebrated for its art and architecture, Syracuse was a technical and scientific cultural centre where the finest living scholars were active. Protected by the King's favour, Archimedes was able to concentrate on furthering knowledge of mathematics and physics while also focusing on technical works that would benefit the community. The Egyptian city of Alexandria raised its head on the other side of the Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. Hailed by ancient writers as "splendid, immortal and regal," all men of culture were drawn to it, including Archimedes, who spent time there completing his studies. Syracuse and Alexandria are where the astonishing advances in technical and scientific knowledge that pervaded the Mediterranean basin in the 3rd century BC were made.