Gates of Cairo

Gates of Cairo The city of Cairo tilted as “The City of a Thousand Minarets”

for containing a massive preponderance of Islamic architecture and revered as

the center of the region’s political and cultural life. The history of the capital

of Egypt goes back to the year 969 AD when the city and a defensive wall

constructed by general Gawhar al-Siqilli to be the capital of the Fatimid dynasty

in Egypt. By the year 1092, a second wall was built around the city which formed

a double-walled city with various fortified gates protecting the outer and inner

areas of the city. The gates of Cairo surrounding the city highly decorated

with enchanting carved artistic elements that showed the city’s victories, faith,

power, and influences across the ages and the king’s legacy. The gates’ main

purpose to protect the city from any foreign invaders but it also worked

on differentiating and separating the various social and economic classes and districts.

The Heavenly Gates to the Glorious City of Cairo

The gates of Cairo acted as the main entrances to the city and

today there are only three remaining which  Bab al Futuh, Bab

al Nasr, and Bab Zuweila. Back then the word “Gate” used to be called

“Bab” means in Arabic as door or entrance. Here the entire

information about the famous gates of Cairo:

Bab Al FutuhGates of Cairo

The first of Cairo gates called Bab al Futuh “Gate of Conquest“, it’s located

in the old city of Cairo and stands at the northern end of Al-Muizz Street,

it was finished in 1087 AD as a part of a fortification constructed by the vizier

Badr al Jamali of caliph Mustamir. The gate is beautifully decorated with

vegetal and geometric motifs. It has a couple of powerful rounded towers

and shafts for pouring burning oil or boiling water on the attackers.

Bab Al-Nasr

The second of the gates of Cairo is called Bab Al-Nasr’s “Gate of Victory“,

it was constructed by Jawahar El-Siqilli under the reign of caliph Muizz

in 970 AD. The gate is quite massive with rectangular stone towers flanking

the semicircular arch of the eastern Portal and a noticeable decorative shield

on the flanks and fronts of the tower to symbolize victory in protecting the

city against any invading forces. The towers of the north wall of the gate

also hold the names of some French officers serving under napoleon who

were responsible for providing security for the entire city.

Bab Zuweila Gates of Cairo

The third door Bab Zuweila built-in 1092 to be one of the last remaining

doors of the Fatimid dynasty in the 11th and 12th centuries. The word Zuweila

refers to a tribe of Berber warriors from the western desert who charged

with safeguarding the gate. Its located in the south of Cairo and has huge

towers, its ability to survive by laying many layers to it over the years.

It pairs many readings and visual elements from different ears. The gate

worked as a point of departure for pilgrims to Mecca. It’s highly considered

to be the most famous gate in Cairo because it was the main platform for

execution and the severed heads of the criminals would hang from the

walls of the gate and in 1811 many of the severed heads of the mamluks

from the citadel massacre would.

Explore Every Enchanting Gates of Cairo

Egypt has a great civilization and amazing archaeological sites beside the

stunning Cairo gates so if you prefer to discover them you can explore our

best Cairo day tours and book the most suitable journey for you. Or you can

combine the best attractions of Cairo with enjoying a Nile cruise in

Upper Egypt through Egypt private tours.

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