Alexandria Archive
History of Alexandria, Egypt: search the archive, read articles, find events and prints.
Should I use this
Quality & Safety
Based on automated analysis of tool definitions and protocol compliance.
Context Cost
This is the approximate number of tokens consumed each time the server's tools are loaded into a model's context. Higher counts reduce the attention available for other tasks.
Install
One-Click Install
Add this to your `claude_desktop_config.json` file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"archive": {
"url": "https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcp"
}
}
}Remote endpoints
https://www.alexandria-archive.com/mcpstreamable-httpWhat it can do
Tool inventory
Tools (8)
🟢search_archive(query)
Search historical photographs, documents, maps, articles, and events of the Alexandria Archive. Query can be Arabic or English (e.g. 'Stanley Bridge', 'كوم الدكة'). Returns titles and canonical URLs.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"query": {
"type": "string",
"description": "Search terms, Arabic or English. Min 2 characters."
}
},
"required": [
"query"
]
}🟢get_article(id)
Fetch one published article by numeric id — returns full markdown text in Arabic and English plus metadata.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"id": {
"type": "integer",
"description": "Article id (from search results or list_recent_articles)."
}
},
"required": [
"id"
]
}🟢list_recent_articles(limit)
List the most recently published articles (id, title, excerpt, date, URL).
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"limit": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 50,
"description": "Max results (default 10)."
}
}
}🟢list_institutions(type, limit)
List museums, libraries, archives and other institutions that publish their collections on the Alexandria Archive. Returns name, type, item count and canonical URL.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"type": {
"type": "string",
"description": "Optional filter, e.g. 'museum', 'library', 'archive', 'university'."
},
"limit": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 50,
"description": "Max results (default 20)."
}
}
}🟢get_institution(slug, itemLimit)
Fetch a single institution by its slug — description, history, contact details, and a sample of its published archive items with canonical URLs. Use this to answer questions about a specific institution's holdings, or to find items available for licensing.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"slug": {
"type": "string",
"description": "Institution slug (from list_institutions or a URL)."
},
"itemLimit": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 50,
"description": "Sample size (default 20)."
}
},
"required": [
"slug"
]
}🟢list_upcoming_events(limit)
List the Alexandria Archive's upcoming events — heritage walks, workshops, talks — soonest first, with date, place, price in Egyptian pounds (or free) and the page where a person books a seat. Use for questions like 'what is on in Alexandria this week' or 'a history walk in Alexandria'.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"limit": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 30,
"description": "Max results (default 10)."
}
}
}🟢list_store_products(limit)
List products on sale in the Alexandria Archive's store — prints, books and gifts about the city — with price in Egyptian pounds and the product page. Sales support the archive.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"limit": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"maximum": 30,
"description": "Max results (default 12)."
}
}
}🟢get_licensing_info(itemId)
Explain how an image or document from the Alexandria Archive may be reused or licensed (publication, broadcast, commercial use), and where the request is made. Pass itemId for one archive record; omit it for the general terms.
Input Schema
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"itemId": {
"type": "integer",
"minimum": 1,
"description": "An archive record's id, from search_archive or its URL (/archive/{id})."
}
}
}Community
Evidence