The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, which are also called the hill of riches, are thought to be a huge royal cemetery from the second century AD. The tombs, sculptures, and burial items in the necropolis are a fascinating mix of Roman, Hellenistic, and pharaonic art styles. One of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages was found here.

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The History of Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

On September 28, 1900, it was found that the tomb had been dug up by accident. It’s important to remember that excavations in this area began in 1892, but the site wasn’t found until 1900, and a donkey did it by accident. The donkey fell into the central opening of the cemetery at a depth of 12 meters. They knew there were footprints in this area and were trying to figure out why the donkey fell. Also, it’s essential to understand that this area’s excavation started in 1892, but the site wasn’t found until 1900.

The way the cemetery is set up, the complexity of the tombs, the order in which they were built, and the variety of decorations inside the tombs all show that they were not all made at the same time. The excavations revealed that the cemetery grew over the centuries, but because its architecture and decorations stayed the same, we couldn’t say how long it grew. Because there were tumbaga, or funeral urns, buried there, we can tell that the cemetery, or at least the oldest part of it (the main cemetery), was built between the end of the first century and the middle of the second. The fact that urns were buried there led to this information.

Who built the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa?

During the reign of the Antonine emperors in the second century AD, work began on a cemetery connected to the Pharaonic burial cult near where Kom El Shoqafa is today. Near the site, this cemetery was built.

Don’t miss this article about Alexandria to get more information.

The name behind the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are also called “the mount of shards” because of all the broken pieces of clay, mud, and stone used to build them. This archaeological site already has too many different names. They got the name “catacombs” because they looked like the places where Christians were buried in Rome. To be fair, the Arabs came up with the word (treasure hill)

A description of the interior design of the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

The catacombs under the city are creepy. The carved stone tombs are close to each other, giving the place a feeling that is both scary and old. During the Hellenistic period, the Ptolemaic Kingdom had its capital in Egypt. Like ancient Egypt, it built underground tombs for its pharaohs and queens to keep them hidden. This was a common thing to do in ancient Egypt. The catacombs have both Pharaonic and Roman features. This shows how much the Egyptians influenced the Ptolemiec and how much they believed in Egyptian ideas about death, the afterlife, and the gods. The fact that the catacombs have both names shows that this is true.

The catacombs were made when tombs were built in Alexandria for a very long time. They are a network of burial chambers carved into the rock at depths between 15 and 35 meters. Because water leaks from the ground below, visitors can’t get to the third level of the catacombs. The entrance to the catacombs looks like a ball. The entrance to the catacombs is often a circular shaft with steps leading to the main tomb and the centerpiece, a small room with columns. Through this window, you can get into the holiest place. The entry hall is decorated with statues of Roman emperors who ruled Egypt during this time and pictures of the Egyptian god Anubis, known as the “god of death.”

The antechamber could be the essential room in the whole underworld with all of its statues and decorations. There are two different ways to get to the Hall of Caracalla, and each has its own set of steps leading up to it. The fact that the tombs of Emperors Tigrane and Wardian are so close to the entrance is one of the most exciting things about the catacombs, and these graves are only a few meters from where you go in.

 

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa is the most famous tomb in Alexandria. It is in the eastern part of the city. You may visit this ancient site and have an experience you’ll never forget by purchasing one of the many unique Egypt vacation packages that see all of Egypt’s most well-known attractions.