Alexander the Alabarch, a Jew from Alexandria, lived circa 8BC to 55AD. Besides being a wealthy and prominent person in Egypt, Alexander also had close ties to many members of the Roman Imperial family (Claudius, Antonia) and was related by marriage to the royal family of Judea (Agrippa I).

This author has written separately about the literary evidence for Alexander the Alabarch, and is now investigating the material culture of his world beginning with the coinage. This investigation will begin with Julius Caesar (who probably gave Alexander's family their grant of Rome citizenship) and extend through the time of Emperor Titus, close friend of Alexander's son, Tiberius Julius Alexander, and destroyer of the Jerusalem Temple. Geographically Alexander's world covered Egypt, Rome, and Judea.

Who are these people to Alexander? There is only direct evidence of a long-time friendship with Claudius, a business? relationship with Antonia Minor, and a disagreement with Emperor Gaius (Caligula). However, 1) given these acquaintances, 2) Alexander's probable long stay in Rome where he became friends with Claudius, and 3) the grant of Roman citizenship that probably came to Alexander (or his family) through Julius Caesar or Augustus, it is possible that Alexander had some acquaintance with many of the persons depicted below.