The culture of the city of Cairo, Egypt - Essay Example

? Report on the Culture of the of Cairo, Egypt Introduction Cairo is the largest in Africa and one of the most densely populated cultural center of the region. It is famous for its proximity with the world famous pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx. Cairo has derived its modern name from the Arabic name 'Al-Qahira. In local vernacular, it is also called Masr. Heritage Sites Memphis was the ancient city located at 20 kilometer to the south of Cairo, which was founded by the pharaoh Menes in 3000 BC. Cairo derives its heritage from Memphis as it remained most important city during those days having located at the mouth of Nile Delta. The ruins of the Memphis tell about its magnificent past and they have been preserved since 1979 as a World Heritage Site. Heritage sites such as Saqqara (Sakkara) Pyramids, Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Khan Al-Khalili, Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Citadel (Al-Qalaa) and many more in Cairo exhibit rich heritage and cultural pride of the place. Gates known as forte were the pride of ancient Cairo. They defended the country from the enemies. It also used to serve the purpose of Source: http://www.touregypt.net/historicalessays/cairogates.htm administration. Only residents of Cairo were allowed to enter the gates. In 1087, the three gates Bab El Fetouh, Bab Zuweila and Bab El Nasr were to built by Badr El Gamali, the prince of armies. The Egyptian Museum The Egyptian Museum is located at Tahrir square in Cairo. Built in 1897 during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II, it has 107 halls. The ground floor is full of huge statues. Mummies and Tutankhamon treasures are situated in first floors. The museum is divided into several sections. Old Kingdom monuments and pre-dynasty stuff are housed at second floor. Middle Kingdom monuments are located in third section. Monuments of the Modern Kingdom are housed in the fourth section. Monuments of the Greek and Roman periods are stationed at fifth section. Coins and papyrus are placed at sixth section. The seventh section is devoted to sarcophagi. The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered by Howard Carter. It took almost 10 years to finish excavation job to unleash this tomb. Perhaps, the most fascinating group of artifacts that are available anywhere in the world is said to be associated with the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb. Tutankhamun is said to have ruled Egypt somewhere between 1334 and 1325 BC. The tomb is housed in the basement of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. More than a million tourists visit the museum annually besides local Egyptians. (The Egyptian Museum…) Heliopolis The ancient site of Heliopolis is situated to the northeastern side of greater Cairo in a district called Matariya. It is one of the three ancient cities of ancient Egypt after Memphis and Thebes. Heliopolis called the 'City of the Sun' in Greek is now largely surrounded by the suburbs of Cairo. It lay inland to the west side of the river Nile. It is said that it was famous for its learning centers and famous temples, which continued even during Graceo-Roman times. The city got destroyed during 525 BCE and 343 BCE due to Persian invasion although its old reputation and structures attract tourists till date. (Heliopolis…) The Citadel The Citadel is most popular among non-pharaonic monuments. It houses museums, mosques and is one of the most fascinating monuments on Cairo’s skyline. When viewed from Source: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/citadel.htm the north side, it reveals its true medieval glamour. The area was known for its cool breeze. Saladin built the area to safeguard themselves from the attackers because the area had a strategic advantage of overlooking Cairo. In fact, Saladin had implemented his native tradition of Syria where each town was built like fortress to safeguard the local ruler. The construction was round towers so that it could be used to flank fire on those who try to scale the walls. The citadel walls were made 10 ft thick and 30 feet high. After Saladin several rulers reinforced the structure of citadel. (The Citadel in Cairo) Culture Cairo culture reminds us about Islamic tradition and culture. The Cairo's culture does have influence of Arabs for being in neighborhood of Arab countries. Cairo's culture is rich and varied in comparison to any other African country. Cairo boasts of a huge National Cultural Center comprising of concert halls and numerous theaters. Cairo is famous for its numerous mosque minarets and is called ‘the city of 1,000 minarets’ justifiably. Many cultural centers in Cairo conduct seminars, workshops, and lectures on varied subjects such as films, music, displays and many cultural events. Magazines such as Al-Ahram Weekly published from Cairo depict a lot about rich culture in Cairo. Festivals and Events Cairo is known for its international Film Festival that started in 1976 and organized every year. The festival has now a global recognition and provides a platform to local filmmakers to prove their talents. International Photography Festival is another important event for Cairo residents held in the month of January. It is an event in which both professional and amateur photographers participate and exhibit their talent. Photographs mainly relate to nature, travel and such matters. Cairo is also known for its Oriental Dance Festival, which is full of fun and frolic. Folk dance and belle dance are the main attraction of the festival. Cairo International Book Fair and Arabian Music Festival are other important events that locals cherish for. (Events in Cairo) Sports Soccer is the most popular sport of Modern Cairo and it has so many sporting teams that participate in competitive soccer. Cairo is also famous for its international stadium that houses 75,000 spectators. It was built in 1960 and serves as the multipurpose sports stadium suitable for track and field activities. Several sporting events including continental and global games have held in this sports complex. Al-Ahly and El Zamalek are the best known teams of Cairo and football match between them is the most sought after event in entire Egypt including Arab world. Conclusion It can be said that the city has a majestic past and is progressing towards the path of modernity using science and technology and at the same time preserving its cultural heritage and glorious traditions. The city of Cairo is known for its true artifacts and not in fiction. It certainly has a great cultural heritage and value for anthropologists. Cairo will always remain a place of tourist attraction for these discerning reasons. References: 1. Cairo gates. [Online] available at http://www.touregypt.net/historicalessays/cairogates.htm [Accessed 11May 2011] 2. The Egyptian Museum [Online] available at http://www.touregypt.net/egyptmuseum/egyptian_museum.htm [Accessed 11May 2011] 3. Heliopolis, Egypt's Iunu. [Online] available at http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/heliopolis.htm [Accessed 11May 2011] 4. The Citadel in Cairo. [Online] available at http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/citadel.htm [Accessed 11May 2011] 5. Events in Cairo. [Online] available at http://www.mapsofworld.com/cities/egypt/cairo/events.html [Accessed 11May 2011] 6. Cairo Culture. [Online] available at http://www.mapsofworld.com/cities/egypt/cairo/culture.html [Accessed 11May 2011] Read More