City of Dead in Cairo: The Enigmatic Allure

City of Dead in Cairo is one of the most important and unique historical sites that reflect the history of ancient Egypt, its relationship and culture It is a mass cemetery that includes many graves from different eras.

It is distinguished by its unique architectural construction that shows the ingenuity and professionalism of the Egyptians in arts and decorations.

In ancient times it was a place for burying important figures and nobles in Egypt, which attracted many tourists and researchers This city also reflects social life in Egypt as well as some cultures about appreciating and respecting the dead In this article, we will talk about City of the Dead in Cairo and we will get to know it between the past and the present so follow us.

Origin of City of the Dead

The history of City of the Dead in Cairo dates back to the Islamic conquest in the seventh century This city was established on top of the Mokattam Mountain and was an important site for burying the dead It contains many important and prominent figures, the most prominent of whom is Amr ibn al-Aas, who conquered Egypt and brought Islam to Egypt for the first time.

He also remained the ruler of Egypt for many years after the conquest Then this area was expanded by the subsequent rulers of Egypt and covered a large area and gained a great position in the political and architectural history of Egypt because many Mamluks, sultans and important political figures in Egypt were buried there.

Choosing the City of the Dead

City of the Dead in Cairo was chosen on the surface of the Mokattam Mountain because there are some physical factors that make this place special for burying the dead, as it is a dry place and the bodies of the dead do not change quickly Also the city of Fustat at this time was the first city that Muslims took as a place for them in Egypt and made cemeteries for them, so this area was known as Al-Qarafa.

There are some historical sayings that say that there was a priest who wanted to buy the Muqattam Mountain from Amr ibn al-Aas at that time for a large sum of money, believing that this place contained the seedlings of the trees of Paradise, but the Muslims at that time refused and chose it as a place to bury their dead.

The City of the Dead Throughout History

 

The City of the Dead was not only one of the most important places where the nobles and rulers of Egypt were buried, but it also became a distinctive destination for the residence of some princes and dignitaries, and some poor Sufis lived in it because it was a place that reflected tranquility, purity and the bones of the dead Then many schools, mosques, places for memorizing the Qur’an and markets were built in it, and then this area became a city in itself. After that the high decorated dome was built, which later became the tomb of Imam al-Shafi’i because it is one of the greatest and most splendid architectural areas in Cairo.

This city has become over the ages one of the most famous cities of the dead in the world, about which many books have been written, until it became a well-known historical symbol, as many followers companions, and some of the Prophet’s family may God bless him and grant him peace, were buried there.

It has been extensively studied by many historians, so much so that they divided it into parts, so each historian would take a part and talk about it, and they would write many books about these ancient Egyptian cemeteries on the page of the distillery, but over time many places where the dead are buried have become, and many graves have been burned in some old mosques.

Architecture in the City of the Dead

 

The City of the Dead in Cairo expresses the unique Islamic heritage with which this area was built, and it was the first complete area to be built in the Islamic style in Egypt especially after Amr ibn al-Aas was buried in 640 AD, followed by many Egyptian Islamic symbols. Many historians fear that the history of this area will be lost especially since it contains many marble, wooden and metal sculptures based on Islamic heritage.

Historians’ Sayings about the City of the Dead

Many Egyptian and foreign historians and researchers have studied the City of the Dead and some of them were greatly surprised that there are many Egyptians who live a normal life among many dead people and go to their schools with the dead next to them, so they took many pictures in this area until it became one of the most important political religious, cultural and social areas famous in Egyptian history.

Many visitors from around the world came to see this great historical area some of whom came to see the social life of the Egyptians, some of whom came to see the unique Islamic architectural design and some of whom came to see the places where many Islamic scholars were buried This city was considered an integrated Egyptian exhibition that combines death and life, and many sayings are still being discovered until now.

The City of the Dead in the Fatimid Era

When the Fatimids came they did not bury their dead in the City of the Dead in Cairo, A new cemetery was built for the Fatimids At this time, Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi transferred the cemeteries of many Fatimids and more than 14 Fatimid caliphs were buried in them After that many Islamic cemeteries and mosques were built, including the Qaitbay Mosque Other cemeteries were built such as the cemeteries of Yunus al-Dawadar, which were the headquarters of the Mamluk cemeteries at that time.

Some landmarks around the City of Dead in Cairo

Tourists did not come to visit the City of the Dead in Cairo only, but there are some heritage and historical landmarks that this ancient area enjoys There is the shrine of Imam al-Shafi’i, and this shrine is considered one of the most important buildings that were built in the Middle Ages and is distinguished by its unique colors and engravings, as it was built by King al-Kamil Muhammad al-Ayyubi over the tomb of Imam al-Shafi’i.

There are also the tombs of Sayyida Nafisa which are considered one of the most important places that many Sufis resort to, and the Mosque of Sayyida Nafisa This mosque is known as the most important mosque in Cairo and attracts many visitors because of its distinctive history and unique architectural design.

The City of the Dead in Modernity

 

There are many modern developments that have occurred in the City of the Dead in Cairo however many explorers have continued to understand the history and culture of this ancient city, and many researchers have considered it

It is an important source of knowledge of the customs and traditions of Egyptians throughout the different ages, starting from the beginning of the Islamic era until now but this city faces many challenges, the most important of which are environmental changes and urban pollution that the country has witnessed recently, and all Egyptians must cooperate with government institutions to preserve this unique archaeological area.

City of the Dead in Cairo is one of the most important tourist attractions that reflects the beauty of construction and construction and the diversity of modern Egyptian culture, making it an unforgettable destination for everyone who visits Cairo.

In conclusion we have learned with you today about City of the Dead in Cairo which is one of the most important modern historical and archaeological landmarks that Egyptians have been distinguished by since the Islamic era, as it combines wonderful design and cultural and architectural history.

There are also many Egyptians who live naturally around the tombs, which reflects Egyptian history between the past and the present. We hope that you like this article.