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Dive into the unknown Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the underground miracle of Alexandria where the realms of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome mingle in stones and mythology.
A Journey Beneath the City
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa were accidentally discovered in 1900 when a donkey fell through an opening in the ground. This incident apologized with one of the most amazing archaeological finds in Egypt - a multi-level burial ground that was dug deep into the rock and showed the spiritual and artistic mix of three great civilizations.
History and Purpose
According to tradition, the catacombs are believed to have been constructed for a wealthy Roman family in the second century A.D., later they became a common burial place. They integrate traditional Egyptian burial practices with Greek and Roman influences — a mirror of Alexandria’s cosmopolitan character during the Greco-Roman period.
Underground Chambers Tour
Tourists go down the spiral staircase that opens to three levels of tombs and halls:
The Hall of Caracalla, reportedly containing the bodies of soldiers who were killed on the order of Emperor Caracalla.
The Main Tomb, featuring exquisite carvings that combine gods of Egypt such as Anubis with Roman armor and iconography.
The Banquet Hall, where relatives used to come together for memorial feasts, which added a very human aspect to this ancient necropolis.
Every chamber speaks of devotion, kinship, and the fusion of customs that characterized the ancient spirit of Alexandria.
Art and Symbolism
The sculptures in Kom El Shoqafa are not comparable to the other Egyptian ones. Images of Egyptian gods are dressed in Roman clothes, while hieroglyphs are right next to Greek-style columns. This perfect mixture of cultures makes the site a great syncretic art piece of ancient times, and a place not to be missed by those who love history.
The Catacombs Visits
The burial chambers, situated in Karmouz, western Alexandria, are daily open to the public and may be visited with a guide or not. The pleasant temperature of the underground area allured visitors even in hot summer months. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes and to take a flashlight with them if they want to explore the place more deeply.
Conclusion
The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are silent witnesses to Alexandria's multicultural past. They are mysterious, artistic, and profoundly symbolic. Thus, they are nothing but a time-traveling experience forces - a reminder of how different cultures shared the light of the Mediterranean sun in harmony.
