WorldTravelGate.net® - Culture of Cairo, Egypt.

Over the ages, Cairo has maintained a distinct character and a special stamp. It constitutes a humanised urban entity throbbing with life and pulsating with activity. The site of the city, but not the name, could be traced back to 4225 BC when, on the western bank of the Nile, there came into being the first capital of an Egypt, united by the East Delta people who chose a place, a few miles north of present Cairo, to build the ancient city "Oun" known to the Greeks later as "Heliopolis" and to Cairenes now as "Ein-Shams".

The French Expedition of 1798 marked a watershed in the history of Egypt. The country was kicked out of the middle Ages and brought into contact with the European civilization. Although the Expedition's primary objective was to control Cairo, so strategically situated as it was and still is, the French no sooner changed plans and jumped into Egyptian history and civilization to the mutual benefit of both peoples. Since then, the city grew and developed toward the northwest until it assumed the present form.

The very spot was chosen by Amr-Ibn-El-As, after the Arabs has conquered Egypt (640 AD), for the site of the country's first Islamic capital, El-Fostat. The city was set up in the space to the north of the Babylon Fortress, a place of great military and urban significance. In the middle, Amr-Ibn-El-As ordered a mosque built, which was named after him, and was the first ever to be established not only in Egypt but also in Africa as a whole.

The mosque of Amr-Ibn-El-As. Built at the order of Amr-Ibn-El-As, and is said to have been the first mosque ever set up in the country. It was constructed in 642 AD, its original design was simple; palm trunks provided the columns and palm branches the ceiling. Later, many improvements were introduced and annexes were added to the mosque over the ages.

Since its set-up, the mosque of Amr-Ibn-El-As has been a place of sublimate to all Muslims, and still is an attraction to tourists from all over the world, to see the magnificence of the everlasting Islamic art.

The mosque of Ibn-Touloun

It is the third mosque erected in Egypt. Built by Ahmed Ibn-Touloun, the founder of the Toulounid Dynasty, its construction was completed in 878 AD. It is considered the largest mosque in Egypt. The mosque is characterized by diverse decorations and engravings spread on its walls, columns, doors, windows and ceiling. its marinet is unique and is the only one with an outside staircase.

The mosque of Al-Azhar

The first mosque built under Fatimid rule in Cairo in 972 AD by Jawhar El Sequeli , the commander of Caliph El Moez lih Dinullah-El-Fatimi. It was named after El-Sayeda Fatima Al Zahra, daughter of the prophet Mohamed, and it holds a compartment bearing her name. It is also the oldest mosque in Cairo and the oldest run university in the Islamic world.

Salah-Eddine Citadel

Built by Sultan Salah-Eddine El-Ayoubi in 1176 AD. It is divided into two independent parts: the northern covers up the military fortress, which is semi-rectangular in shape and has high towers. The Southern part covers up the palaces and stables extending from North to South. Some palaces and mosques were established in the Citadel area such as the mosque of Mohamed Ibn-Qualawoun, Sidy Sariah Mosque, the mosque of Mohamed Ali set up by Mohamed Ali Basha in 1830 AD, Al Jawra Mosque and the military Museum.

Al-Hussein Mosque

Located at Al-Hussein district, it was built in 1154 AD in the days of Caliph Al-Zafer Bi Amr-Allah.

Al Refaee Mosque

Located at Salah-Eddine Square in front of Sultan Hassan Mosque, it was built by Khediwe Ismail in 1286 AD.