The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa are the largest Roman-era burial site in Egypt, cut deep into the rock beneath Alexandria in the 2nd century AD. They are a strange and fascinating mix of Egyptian, Greek and Roman art, and the most memorable sight in the city.
Found by a donkey
The catacombs were forgotten for centuries. In 1900, so the story goes, a donkey pulling a cart fell through the ground into a shaft, and the tomb below was discovered.
What to see
A spiral staircase winds down around a central shaft, used to lower bodies on ropes. On the first level is a dining hall where families held funeral banquets, with stone benches still in place. The main tomb has a doorway guarded by snakes wearing the crowns of Egypt, and inside, the god Anubis appears dressed as a Roman soldier. Further on, in the so-called Hall of Caracalla, bones of horses and people were found together. The lowest level is now flooded.
Visiting
A visit takes about 45 minutes. The stairs are steep and photography rules can change. It is part of our Alexandria day tours from Cairo and our shore excursions from Alexandria port.
