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 Futuh
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.