Home
The Fortress of Babylon dates from early Roman times, when a Roman legion resided in this strategic area on the apex of the Nile Delta. Apparently it was enlarged and fortified by the Emperors Trajan (98-117 A.D.) and Arcadius (395-408). Although the Fortress was sadly ruined at the turn of this century, it is considered to be one of the best preserved military structures of Roman times. Most of the walls are built of three regular layers of red bricks alternating with five stone layers, bound together with a mortar of sand, lime, pebbles and charcoal. The walls were constructed on an irregular five sided layout with numerous semi-circular bastions.
The western side facing the Nile had no bastions but featured a drawbridge with two massive circular towers of about 33 meters in diameter, structures not common to Roman fortresses. Now, the gateway leading to the Coptic Museum stands between these two towers. The Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George is built over the north tower. Another gateway facing south is flanked on both sides by two large projecting semi-circular towers leading into an inner court which can be reached from the garden of the Old Wing of the Coptic Museum. It is above this gateway that Church of Al-Mo’allaqa was built.
We have no information on the churches within the Fortress of Babylon before the Arab conquest of Egypt. But it is known that Cyrus, Bishop of Babylon, Participated at the Council of Ephesus held in 449 A.D., and his cathedral cannot have been the only church in Babylon. Moreover, beautiful pieces of woodwork dating from the churches of Saint Sergius, Saint Barbara and Al-Mo’allaqa; these are now on display in the Coptic Museum. On the other hand, it seems incongruous that these churches existed inside a fully operational Roman and Byzantine military fortress; one of them, Al-Mo’allaqa, was built above one of the gateway to the fortress.
Customize Your Dream Vacation!
Get in touch with our local experts for an unforgettable journey.
Plan Your Trip
When & where were the Great Pyramids of Giza Built? Who Discovered & Who Built the Giza Pyramids? What were the Great Giza Pyramids made of? Read to Know!
Covering more than 3,000 years, from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period in Egypt. It’s said that if you allowed one minute for each exhibit, it would take nine months to see everything here.
Existing since the Fatimid rule of Egypt, Khan el Khalili is the oldest Bazaars in Cairo always been a purveyor of all that is Precious & rare. Know more about the origins of this mystic bazaar
The Giza plateau is filled with Relics of ancient Egypt but few have shared the Reverance and Mysterious origins of the Mighty Sphinx, Dive into the Interesting details about this historical monument.
At Wekalet Al-Ghouri, the Tannoura Troupe performs music and dance from the Sufi traditions. The traditional Egyptian dance, music, and singing at the Tanoura Show is a wonderfully intriguing event. a hugely well-attended event that draws both visitors and residents.
Saqqara was one of Egypt's greatest burial cemeteries, and it had been in use for for 3,000 years. The majority of it is still unexplored, but among the wonders on display is the spectacular Step Pyramid of Zoser.
The Valley Temple was buried beneath the sand until it was discovered in 1852 by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.
Once the place from which Sultan Salah el dein Governed, the citadel, and Mosque is bursting with history awaiting your discovery. Explore its rich history with our article & Read on.
One of the many marvels of ancient Egypt is the Khufu Solar Boat, Residing in the Khufu ship museum. Discover more about this masterpiece, its history, discovery and purpose
Saint George Church was constructed by Athanasius during the time of Ibn Marwan, Governor of Egypt, and is referenced in the History of the Coptic Patriarchs and by Al-Maqrizi.
You enjoy the light and sound spectacle near the pyramids and Sphinx. The Sphinx retells history, revealing the world's most ancient mysteries.
The greatest tomb in Saqqara is that of King Zoser (Djoser), whose Step Pyramid marked the beginning of the Pyramid Age.
The most well-known church in Cairo is the Al Muallaqa church and one of the oldest in Coptic Egypt. Because it was built above the Babylon Fortress, it is named Al Muallaqa and is devoted to the Virgin Mary.
The Old Kingdom pharaoh Snofru ordered the construction of the Bent Pyramid, which was found in the Dahshur Necropolis. The shift in the angle at the summit of Snofru's ultimate resting place sets it apart from all other pyramids.
One of the oldest inhabited parts of the city is Masr el Qadima (Old Cairo), the Coptic neighborhood that provides a fascinating link between Egypt’s pharaonic and Islamic civilizations.
This church is located to the east of the Church of Saint Sergius and to the north of the Coptic Museum. It was presumably rebuilt in 1072–1073, when Saint Barbara's relics were moved from the Church of Al-Mo'allaqa, and it was initially dedicated to Saint Cyrus (Abu Qir).
Babylon Fortress is an Ancient Roman fortress on the eastern bank of the Nile, erected approximately 30 BC with the advent of Emperor Augustus in Egypt.
Memphis was the world's first Imperial City, founded by King Menes in 3100 BC under the Old Kingdom of the Pharaohs. It was Egypt's first capital and, at the time, a prosperous hub of commerce and the Cult of the God Ptah.
Cairo's Al Azhar Mosque is claimed to be the world's oldest university, specializing in Islamic academics. It is normal to observe Muslim students from all over the world sitting and reading inside the Mosque at the entrance.
Teti, a smooth-sided Pyramid, is located in Cairo, Egypt. It was one of the earliest original Pyramids erected, dating back to the 6th Dynasty.
Essam Azzam Street, which in old Arabic reads 'Sharia al-Muizz li-Deen Illah,' is one of Cairo Egypt's oldest streets, measuring around one kilometre in length. According to a United Nations survey, it has the highest concentration of medieval architectural treasures in the Islamic world.
The Al Hussein Mosque is noteworthy for containing the world's oldest complete manuscript of the Holy Quran. It is also located on a very busy street near Khan Khalili Bazaar, which attracts many visitors from all over the world as well as Muslim pilgrims.
A wide open gate in the manner of North African Medina gateways from the Ottoman times. An intriguing edifice that still hosts an annual event commemorating the Hajj in the Muslim calendar.
Bab Zwayla was the city's major southern entrance during Fatimid rule. It was built in the 1090s to enhance the Fatimid city's defences (with sixty gates) using Anatolian or Mesopotamian Christian architects and Egyptian labour.
In the centre of Old Cairo, in one of the city's oldest squares, and at the base of the iconic Saladin Citadel, is an ancient mosque. They complement one another as they are positioned next to the Sultan Hassan Mosque, which is likewise ancient and historically significant.
Ibn Tulun's Mosque is one of the few structures from the 9th and 10th centuries, when the Abbasid caliphs dominated the Muslim world from Iraq, that have survived.
When construction on the Mosque of Sultan Hassan began in 1356, it was incredibly large in scale, and numerous design problems quickly became obvious.
Before the 167 Km (140 miles) Suez Canal opened in 1869, European ships had to cruise around southern Africa to reach the East, therefore it halved the distance between Europe and Asia. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.
One of Egypt's most renowned tyrants is honoured in the al-Hakim Mosque, which is located next to the Northern Walls. The sixth Fatimid caliph, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
In close proximity to Saint Barbara's and to the east of the Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus is the synagogue of Ben-Ezra. Originally a Coptic church, it was sold to the Jews after Patriarch Michael III was blackmailed into paying Ahmed Ibn Tulun money.
The largest of the three main pyramids at the Dahshur necropolis, the Red Pyramid of Snofru is named for the colour of the limestone from which it was constructed.