Cairo Walls and Gates

Cairo Walls and Gates

Even its walls and gates have stories to tell !

They are not entering the city through its gates!! The city through its gates!! The

pampered daughter of Caliph Al-Moezz had many gates and guards. None, including kings or sultans - could come to her without a prior permission. If you were fortunate enough to meet with her, one of its gates would be opened for you.

Cairo: The Legendary Princess

The beautiful Cairo was the only dwelling space for the Caliph, the military and their families.

The military commander Gawhar al-Siqilly, was the one who realized that his city will be a legendary, extraordinary princess. He built the high walls to protect Cairo and to enable his city to select the ones who will have the honor of visiting her.

As I was an extraordinary visitor, I had the privilege to enter the city from any door. How to pick one - and only one - while behind each door many stories stand; all derived from the events and people it witnessed.

Bab el-Fotouh

This is the “Gate” of the fortress city named Cairo from the north. “Bab al-Fotouh” means the “Door of Conquests/victories” as the armies used to come out from this point to carry out their missions to open new horizons and face the enemies. Bab El-Fotouh has two round towers flanking the big entrance. On top of the entrance,

there are high statues in the form of a ram with two horns. From the top of the towers, I could see the wonderful panorama of Islamic Cairo. Bab al-Fotouh has reached a level of magnificence to an impeccable extent as a model for the Egyptian fortresses in the Fatimid era. I can see the public here wrapping some thick threads or a strip of cloth around the head of one of screws of the wooden door. When I approached one of them, he told me that they usually keep this popular legacy of those who have wishes that they want to achieve. He advised me that I should do the same and pray to God to respond to my supplication and make my wish come true  .

Bab al-Nasr

On the northern side of the city stands the second gate of this city, through which the troops could be seen returning while carrying the banners of victory and dragging the prisoners of war captured in these victorious battles.

Bab El-Nasr has two square-shaped towers, featuring carvings that represent the machines of war at this time, and writing on the façade above the entrance in Kufi script that reads: “In the name of Allah. There is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Imam Ali is the one blessed by Allah. May Allah's blessings be on the Imams, their descendants and companions."

The two gates (Bab al-Nasr and Bab Al-Fotouh) are linked together through a wall from the outside. Likewise, from the inside, they are connected by a number of tunnels. This truly makes them an architectural wonder that remains till our time telling a lot of history.

Bab Zuweila

 This is the third gate that shares with the other aforementioned two (Bab al-Nasr and Bab al-Fotouh) the glorious history of the people of Egypt and their civilization. These three gates are the only ones remaining so far. Bab Zuweila – like the other ones - was built to protect this city from the south. Very similar to Bab al-Fotouh, Bab Zuweila has two rounded towers. The gate was named after Moroccan troops of the tribe of Zuweila. People say that the Fatimid Caliph, Al-Moezz, when he came to Cairo came in through this gate, that is also distinguished by the two Minarets of al-Muayyad mosque, which are considered the most beautiful Mamluk minarets ever.

The people also call the place “Bab elMetwally" either referring to some Sheikh who was said to have miraculous acts such as flying over Cairo, or referring to “Motwally” (the incumbent tax officer).

Bab al-Farag

This gate was built to protect the southern part of Cairo just like Bab Zuweila. Yet, it was totally demolished and there are no traces for it left now. It was located at the site called Maquam al-Sett Saada near the Security Directorate of Cairo now.

Bab al-Barqueyya

This gate was named after range of soldiers who came from the city of Barqa. It was also known as Bab al-Ghareeb (the door of the stranger) named after al-Ghareeb mosque, the gate of which was built next to it. This section was demolished and then rebuilt in the Ayyubid era. Nev-ertheless, it was destroyed again and now al-Azhar University stands in its place.

Bab Al-Qarrateen , Bab Saada and Bab al-Qantara were also some of the original Cairo's Gates. What remains now of these gates is nothing but Bab al-Nasr, Bab al-Fotouh and Bab Zuweila. There is no stronger evidence for the intelligence

and awareness of the Egyptians and the value they give to history than their keenness to name the places of Cairo after the gates that existed before their demise. If they had not immortalized such names, we would not have known that Cairo had all these gates and we would not have searched for their stories.

Written by Neveen Ahmed