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In arabic is al-Qāhirah,
meaning.('victorious') and the capital city of Egypt (and previously the
United Arab
Republic) and has a metropolitan area population of approximately 16 million people, the largest in Africa. and the
sixteenth most populous metropolitan area
While al-Qāhirah is the official name of
the city, in local speech it is typically called simply by the name of the
country, Mişr pronounced Maşr in the local
dialect.
Cairo is located on the banks and
islands of the Nile River in the north of Egypt, immediately south of the point
where the river leaves its desert-bound valley and breaks into two branches into
the low-lying Nile Delta region.
West of
Giza, in the desert, is part of the ancient necropolis of Memphis on the
Giza plateau, with its three large
pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza
(last surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World).
Approximately (18
km) ,to the south of modern Cairo is the site of the ancient Egyptian city of
Memphis and its
necropolis Saqqara. |
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History of cairo
The current location of Cairo was too
far from the ancient course of the Nile to support a city. Just to the south of
the modern city's location are the ruins of Memphis, which was the capital of
Ancient Egypt and was founded in
around 3100 BC by Menes after he had united the two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt.
although the capital later moved to
south to Thebes, and under the Ptolemaic dynasty Alexandria
The first settlement on the location of
modern Cairo was a Roman fort, known as Babylon Fort, built about AD
150, built near the
settlement known as Babylon-in-Egypt, which lay
close to an ancient Egyptian canal from the
Nile to the Red Sea. a small
town mostly of Coptic Christians slowly grew around the fort. Arab invaders,
lead by
Amr
Ibn-el-As, took the fort town in 642 and also established their army in the location, rebuilding its defenses.
The Arab tented camp outside the fortress, known as Al-Fustat, slowly became the base of the Arab
forces in
Egypt , and contains the first mosque in Africa.the mosque of Amr
ibn-el-As.
After that many islamic daynasties
conquered Egypt till the time of 972 when
the North African Shiite Fatimid
Dynasty
conquered Egypt and built a new capital,Their leader, Al-Muez Ledin-Ellah,
renamed the city Al-Qahirah
founded in AD
969,after the planet Mars which was rising on the
day the city was founded
And The Al-Azhar
mosque was founded in 970A.D and became a great islamic university which made Cairo a
centre
of learning and philosophy. The school remains a major center for Islamic study
today.
in 1798 Napoleon conquered Egypt, and Cairo was quickly
surrendered to him by its Mameluk rulers. The
first
hints of westernization began under the successors to MOHAMED ALI who formed a great dynasty ruled egypt
from
1804 till 1952 by king FAROUKI the last king
of this family.
Modern cairo
today :-
Since the 19th century cairo has also become a
center for tourism as pepole from around the world have come
to see the
monuments of ancient egypt especially the pyramids.
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What to see
in cairo?
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1- PHARONIC MONUMENTS
A- The Pyramids of
Giza and The Sphinx:
The Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as tombs to preserve the
bodies of their dead kings, especially that they
believed in resurrection and
immortality, The Pyramids of Giza lie at the western side of Cairo.
The Great
Pyramid :-
The most famous structure in the world and the only surviving of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was
built by King Khufu (Cheops) of the
IV Dynasty around 2650 BC. lts height now is 137 m (original height: 146 m).
Almost 2.3 million blocks of stone were put into building this pyramid. Close to
the eastern side of the Pyramid of
Khufu lie three small pyramids dedicated
either to his wives and mother.
The Second Pyramid :-
Built by Khafre (Chephren),
south-west of his father's (Khufu's) pyramid though lower in height: 136 m. It
still
retains, on some of its upper parts, the remains of the limestone that had
once covered it all. The visitor can also
still see the remains of
Khafre's mortuary temple, the Temple of the
Valley, and rising causeway. These temples
witnessed the
religious rites during the embalming of the body.
The Third Pyramid :-
Built by Menkaure (Mycerinus),
south-west of the Great and Second Pyramids. lt is much smaller than either one
(62 m high). lt is distinguished by the fact that the lower part of its sides
still retain their granite slab coverings.
The Solar Boats of Khufu :-
 The Ancient Egyptians carved spacious areas in the rock, near the
Pyramids. There they
placed wooden boats, to be at the disposal of the King when
he went on his journey of Day
and Night with the sun god, Ra, in the afterworld.
Recent excavations, on the east side of
the Great Pyramid. When the huge stone
slabs were removed, they revealed parts of a
large boat, made of cedar wood, in
very good condition. The boat is 43.5 m long, and 7 m
high .The boats are
now housed in a special museum, south of the Pyramid of Cheops. The
museum is
open from 9-4 daily.
The Sphinx :-
 On the way to the Temple of the Valley, lies the large statue of the
Sphinx. One of
most famous monuments in the world, it is indeed a legendary
statue for it has the
body of lion and the face of a man. lt is 70 m long and 20
m high. The face of the
Sphinx closely resembles that of King Kephren.
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B- Memphis and
Saqqara:
Memphis :-
 
The oldest capital of Egypt, was built by King
Menes, and lies 30 kms south-west of Cairo. The colossal statue of
Ramses
II is exhibited in the museum. This is the most beautiful representation of
Ramses II. lt is made of fine
grained limestone, 13 meters long, and weight 120
tons. also it houses the alabaster sphinx which consider to be
the second in size after the great one at giza it is weight 80
tons.
Saqqara :-
it is the oldest Ancient Egyptian
cemetery. lt lies on a desert plateau, south-west of Cairo. Houses the first
stone
structure built in the ancient world which is the Step-Pyramid with
a great complex, built by the engineer
lmhotep for King Zoser. The Pyramid
measures 123.5 by 107 m at the base and about 60m in height.
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C- The Egyptian
Museum:
 
One of the most prominent museums in the world known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo is home to
nic antiquities in the world. It has 136,000 items on display, with many
more hundreds of thousands in its basement storerooms.
it was opened in
1901with a collection assembled by Auguste Mariette, theFrench archaeologist
retained by
Isma'il Pasha. The most famous objects there thecollection of thePharaoh Tutankhamun, whose almost the
most complete tomb we found
till now. Howard Carter found it in the Valley ofthe Kings in 1922.
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2- Coptic Monuments in Cairo
A- Hanging Church:
 most of the ancient Coptic churches are located in the Old section of
the city.
Constructed around the 4th or 5th Century, this basilica was named
"Al-Muaallaqah" because it was built on top of the south gate of the
Fortress of Babylon.
Church of Abu Sergah ( St Sergius ) :-
 Dating back to the beginning of the 5th Century, the basilica is built on the cave in which the
Holy Family is believed to have stayed when they came to Egypt. It is regarded by visitors as
a source of blessing.
Church of Sitt Barbara ( Ste Barbara ) :-
 Founded in the 5th Century, the Church was rebuilt in the 10th Century and
still retains its wooden door, a magnificent example of fine Coptic art.
The synagogue :-
 The Ben Ezra synagogue is the supreme Jewish monument in Cairo.dates back to 12
century It is not the only synagogue, but it is the most used. It no longer has a rabbi, but
is maintained by 42 local Jewish families.Legends claim that the synagogue is built on
the spot where pharaoh's daughter found Moses in the nile.
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3- Islamic Monuments in Cairo
A- Citadel of saladin and the mosque:
Citadel of saladin :-
 Known as Al-Qalaa (the Citadel) and built by Salah-Al-Din Al-Ayyubi (Saladin)
in AD 1169. Overlooking the city of Cairo from the Muqattam Hills, it houses
a number of important monuments including the Mosque of Soliman Pasha,
the Alabaster Mosque, the 90-meter deep Bir Yusuf (Joseph's Well) Al
Gawhara Palace, and a military museum.
THE MOSQUE OF MOHAMED ALI :-
Or the alabaster mosque built in 1830 and it the most intersting site to visit in the
citadel built for mohamed ali the otthoman ruler in egypt.it is copy of the blue mosque
of sultan ahmed at astanbul(turkey).consists from 2 patrs the open cout which
measure 2100 m,and the prayer hall about 1800m.Also it houses the mousealem of
mohamed ali.
 see the mosque from inside ........
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B- The mosques and houses:
Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas
( Al-Fustat ) :-
 lt was the first mosque built in Egypt and Africa. lt is simple in design and
contains architecture elements from different periods.
Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun :-
 This is the third "large mosque" (gamee) built in Egypt. It is characterized
by
its spacious hall ), its unique spiral minaret and a large collection of
gypsum
decoration.
Al-Azhar Mosque :-
 The first Fatimid mosque in Cairo, it was founded in Midan Hussein by Gawhar
al-Sikilli in AD
970 as both a mosque and Madrasah (school). It is named after
Fatma al-Zahraa, the
daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. It is considered the
oldest Islamic University, the first
lecture having been delivered in AD 975.
Mosque of Sultan Hassan :-
 Located at the end of Al-Qalaa (Citadel) Street, it was founded by Al-Nasser
Hassan Bin-Mohammed Bin-Qalawon, a Mamelouk ruler, as a mosque and a
school
accomodating the four main sects of Sunnism.
Al-Refai Mosque :-
One of the most nicely decorated mosques in Cairo, this monument is located
near the Citadel of Salah-El-Din (Saladin) and the Mosque of Sultan Hassan.
Here, several members of the former Royal Family (including King Farouk), as
well as the ex-Shah of Iran, are buried.
House of Al-Seheimi :-
Located on Mu'iz Le Din Allah Street,Bayt means "house" in Arabic,so this is
an ancient restored house,The house was purchased in 1796 by Sheikh
Ahmed
as-Suhaymi Nowadays Bayt el Suhaymi is the best example of a rich
private
house dating to seventeenth century which show how people used
to
live in the Ottoman period,it is good example of Islamic architecture.
AND MUCH MORE TO
SEE........
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