Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

In Alexandria, the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa cemeteries are one of the most important historical archaeological sites in the Kom El-Shoqafa area, and it is considered one of the seven wonders of the medieval world, where the tombs of the dead combine a mixture of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian culture. The tombs of the dead in Kom El-Shoqafa combine a mixture of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultures.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are described in detail here.

Alexandria, known as the “bride or gem of the Mediterranean,” served as Egypt’s capital for a lengthy period. Several one-of-a-kind monuments are practically hard to locate anywhere else in the nation to see.

The Kom El Shoqafa Catacombs are one of the most prominent historical monuments in Alexandria, as well as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Egypt for visitors from across the world.

These catacombs in the style of Ancient Egyptian art are excellent examples of the impact of Ancient Egyptian art on Roman art.

Geographical Location is defined as follows:

They are situated in West Alexandria, south of the Mena El Basel quarter (also known as “Onion Port” because of the area’s historical onion commerce), and are accessible by foot or by public transportation.

The catacombs are easily accessible by taxi from any location in Alexandria. It is, however, recommended that you book a trip through a reputable travel operator to get the most out of your journey.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa have a long and illustrious history.

It is possible to determine that the Catacombs of Kom El Shohafa were built at various times during the first and second centuries A.D. based on their features, their designs, and their ornamentation.

Some of the artifacts unearthed are from the years 117 and 138 A.D., respectively. Most historians believe that the catacombs were utilized until the end of the fourth century A.D., after which they were decommissioned and forgotten.

The discovery of this major historical monument occurred by chance on September 28, 1900, when a donkey collapsed at the main entrance to the tombs, which were more than 12 meters deep. This attracted the attention of the archaeological mission, which had been working in the region since 1892.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are described in detail.

The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are now one of Alexandria’s most popular tourist attractions. The spiral staircase, which measures 6 meters in diameter and nearly 10 meters in depth and surrounds cylindrical water well, serves as the entryway.

This staircase was constructed with bigger steps at the beginning and smaller steps at the finish, by traditional Roman traditions, and it leads to the first subterranean level.

A circular chamber known as “the Rotunda” is reached by a passageway that links to the first floor. A water well may be found amid the field. A rectangular chamber, which was once used as a banquet hall, is located on one side of the building.

At the other end of the circular area, a set of stairs leads to a second basement, which has a plethora of rooms, hallways, chambers, and the majority of the tombs of Kom El Shoqafa, among other things.

The “rotunda,” or circular chamber, is supported by six columns and has a dome above it. The depth of the water well is about 8.5 meters. The red geometric motifs that decorate the walls of this room provide a pop of color to the space.

It was discovered on the site that five heads of alabaster sculptures had been discovered, and they are presently on exhibit in the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria.

The “triclinium” is the term used to describe the second chamber that may be viewed. It is 9 meters in width and 8.5 meters in length, and it has the most impressive decorations in all of Kom El Shoqaf. During their journey to the catacombs, the families of the dead would congregate in this part for lunch.

The chamber with three sarcophagi with Greco-Roman décor is the most significant area of the second subterranean since it contains the most precious artifacts. Reliefs depicting the difficult process of mummification in Ancient Egypt may be seen in the middle chamber.

The room’s walls are covered with images depicting the Roman Emperor, who is wearing his crown and bringing his sacrifices to the goddess Isis, who is encircling and protecting the departed with her wings.

As you go out of the main room of Kom El Shoqafa, you’ll see a statue of the deity Anubis, dressed in soldier’s garb and with Roman weapons, standing in front of a pharaonic entrance.

On the other side, the deity Anubis is likewise shown, this time with a human body and a dragon’s tail instead of the usual human body and dragon’s tail. All of these scenes were drawn from Egyptian funerary art, which was the source of their inspiration.

Who was responsible for the construction of the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa?

The cemetery of Kom El Shoqafa was built during the Roman era, and it was discovered by chance in September 1900, when a donkey fell into the main hole of the cemetery, and while searching for the donkey, this amazing trace was discovered. The cemetery of Kom El Shoqafa is located in the northern part of the city of Jerusalem.

Entrance charge to the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

There is an entrance fee of 80 pounds for adults and 40 pounds for students. The cemetery is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, and students are admitted free of charge.

What is it about the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa that makes them such a wonder?

This cemetery’s catacombs, which combine elements of Greek, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations and feature inscriptions unique to each civilization, are considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. The catacombs are located within the Kom al-Shoqafa cemetery and are considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa were designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid.

The tombs of Kom al-Shoqafa are a collection of underground catacombs, the majority of which were built by the Romans, who were influenced by Pharaonic civilization, as evidenced by the inscriptions found in the tombs. Visitors enter the catacombs through a set of stairs that lead to the main cemetery.

In addition, there is a waiting area with sculptures of Anubis (the god of the dead) disguised as Romans, as well as statues of the Roman emperors that controlled Egypt during this period.

The origin of the name

The Kom El Shoqafa was given its name due to the vast amount of pottery shards and quarries that were gathering in this area at the time of its formation.