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| Egypt Flights Home »Tourist Attractions in Alexandria »Catacombs of Kom el-Shukafa |
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Catacombs of Kom el-Shukafa |
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The catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa is of the most magnificent and memorable monuments of Alexandria as well as in the whole of world. Catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa points us of a level of technological expertise equaling enterprises of modern subways and tunnels while far surpassing them in aesthetic response. In other words the description of Great Catacomb is comprehensible. Catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa dates back to the late first century AD. Excavation of the catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa began in 1892 but no catacombs were actually found until Friday.
Both the plan and its decoration are unique. They represent the mixing and melding of the cultures and traditions of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Catacomb are a greet symbol where people utilized their talent for combining rather than destroying cultures. The architects and artists were trained in the Greco-Roman style. At the initial years catacombs only served to wealthy family of the ancient Egyptian pagan religion. The shaft at the Kom el-Shuqafa is round. The shaft is about six meters in diameter contains both the spiral staircase, which is preserved to a height of about ten meters.
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The design of the steps is also very unique. There are ninety-nine steps that decrease in height as they approach the surface, so that at the top there are almost no steps at all. It is generally believed that it was designed for the tomb visitors so that after viewing the deceased in the lower levels, they could climb back up to the surface easily. The entrance to the Catacombs of Kom el-Shukafa lies in the Southwest of Pompey's Pillar, near the small El-Miri Mosque. You will find other catacombs besides Kom el-Shukafa catacombs, which are more or less important catacombs of the Graeco-Roman period. Catacombs of Kom el-Shukafa is also home to the Central Tomb, carrying the 2nd century AD statues of Sobek and Anubis donning Roman armor.
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Photography is not allowed in the catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa. The opening hours are from 9am-5pm until 3pm during Ramadan. It is again strongly recommended to check with the organizers that any event is happening before making travel arrangements. The Catacombs of Kom el-Shukafa represents the last existing major construction related to the ancient Egyptian religion. This was also the case in the Pankrati tomb in Rome
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