Where are the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa located?

Alexandria City, the bride of the Mediterranean, has many monuments which are distinguished by its heritage and originality. It serves as an open museum of archaeological sites. The wanderer in its streets, wherever his eyes fall, will feel the beauty and charm of that inspiring city on the shore of the Mediterranean, which has a lot of archaeological landmarks from many civilizations, especially the Romanian civilization, which is clearly observed.

The Roman Empire took Alexandria as its capital city in Egypt, and one of the most important Romanian landmarks that was purely discovered by coincidence, the Tombs of Kom El Shoqafa or as it is called the Catacombs, which is considered one of the most important cemeteries of Alexandria for their vastness and abundance of the decoration and complexity of its design.

They are located in Alexandria, in the Kom El Shoqafa area south of the Onion Mina neighbourhood; it is considered one of the city’s most important tombs and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.

Certain sculptures adopted the Egyptian aesthetic but incorporated Roman attire and hairstyles, combining different elements while maintaining a cohesive style. Positioned at its core is a spiral staircase that leads to tombs carved within the Rock in the Antonine Era (2nd century AD). Primarily utilized for the conveyance of deceased individuals, these tombs are an integral part of the structure.

The tomb consists of a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues, and archaeological remains for pharaonic funerary worship, and because of the time period at the time, many features of the catacombs in Kom El Shoqafa heap combine Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultural points.

Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.

From where did the name of Kom El Shoqafa come?

The name of Kom El Shoqafa is due to the area where the cemetery was discovered, which was famous for making pottery. The name of Kom EL Shoqafa is the Arabic name given to the area by the Arabs in the revival of the ancient Greek name. The area was named because of the many pottery remains and crumbs that were accumulating in this place, where the remains of the pottery were cast.

History of the Catacombs of Kom El Shaqafa

The discovery of the cemetery goes back to a funny story. These graves were discovered on September 28, 1900. Drilling and excavation in the area had begun in 1892. Nothing was discovered until a donkey fell on that day into the main opening of a cemetery at a depth of 12 meters. When they began the search for the donkey, they discovered the cemetery, which is one of the largest Roman cemeteries in Egypt in terms of size and dates back to the second century AD. It also combines Roman and ancient Egyptian art and decoration, and it consists of three floors underground.

The discovery opened the door to historical studies and archaeology to know the history of Alexandria during the Roman era. It is also called the Catacomb Cemetery, which means tombs dug under the surface of the earth. It carries this name due to the similarity in design between it and the Christian cemeteries in Rome. These tombs were known and spread during the first three centuries AD of the Roman era and are considered among the most prominent examples of the mixing of Egyptian and Roman art.

Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.

Description of Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa consist of four floors. It begins with an entrance above the ground, and this entrance has a spiral staircase. At the end of this staircase, you find the first floor of four floors:

The first floor has a well in the middle of a round hall interspersed with a vestibule, and on the first floor, there is a rectangular hall that also includes 3 sofas.

And at the end of the round hall, a ladder takes us to the second floor. The components of the first floor are The entrance and the hidden hall in the middle of which the well is located, as well as the hall of literature.
The second floor is the floor inside which there are places for burial, which takes the form of a room interspersed with openings in its walls, as there are vestibules interspersed with holes and small burial chambers. Through this vestibule, we reach the third floor. The second floor consists of the podium.
The third floor is currently flooded but has burial chambers.
The spiral staircase is the main staircase that connects the floors of the cemetery, but in reality, this staircase wraps around a deep well about 10 meters deep. As for the ceiling of the ladder, it takes the form of a vault that includes five rows of stone pieces.

As for the fourth floor, it disappeared and was flattened to the ground.

Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa- Staircase.

How to take a tour in the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa?

Try to enjoy the experience of the open museum when you visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, where you find yourself among many unique Pharaonic Roman monuments, and you can see the remains and traces of the celebration halls and funerals that were held in this place and other various monuments.

Despite the beauty of the cemetery, which draws the attention of many visitors, it is still cemeteries which may only suit adults, so it is not recommended to enter those under 12 years old, as the cemeteries raise awe in the hearts of some people.

It is better when you visit the cemetery to be in a group and with a guide to learn more about the stories of the cemetery, sculptures and monuments without explanation. You will enjoy the monuments without knowing their history, so your best choice is to join us in this thrilling tour to have a distinguished experience.

You should be careful during the visit that photos are not allowed inside the cemetery, but you can take a lot of memorial photos outside the cemetery with its surroundings.