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Bab al-Futuh - Cairo

 

Bab al-Futuh is located in the Bab al-Futuh Square of Cairo. It is one of the oldest surviving gates in the city walls. Cairo’s famous al-Muizz Street starts from here and it goes all the way to Bab Zuweila. The Bab el-Futuh, or Gate of Conquest consists of a huge vaulted opening carved from a massive block of stone and flanked by two rounded towers.
Bab al-Futuh was built by the powerful Fatimid vizier Badr al-Jamali in 1087. This gate of Cairo mark the beginning of stone masonry in Cairo and were built in the Fatimid era, a style borrowing from Byzantine architecture.

 

A sign on the walls of Bab al-Futuh
A sign on the walls of Bab al-Futuh
This is the inner side of the gate, the famous al-Muizz Street starts from here
Inner arch (city side) of Bab al-Futuh - Cairo
Inner arch (city side) of Bab al-Futuh - Cairo
Door of Bab al-Futuh,in the past, this door was locked at night
Door of Bab al-Futuh,in the past, this door was locked at night
A closer look at the gate
This appears to be the grave of someone, right beside the inner arch of the door
This appears to be the grave of someone, right beside the inner arch of the door
This arch is above the entrance of the gate (seen from outside of the city walls)
This sign on one of the walls of the gate show the details of the construction of this gate
This sign on one of the walls of the gate show the details of the construction of this gate
City walls of Cairo extending from the Bab al-Futuh - in the past, whole city was enclosed by these walls
Here, a minaret of the Mosque of Hakim can be seen above the city walls
Here, a minaret of the Mosque of Hakim can be seen above the city walls

 

The gate entrance is covered with a shallow dome consisting of transition zones of four spherical-triangular pendentives. This is the first appearance of this type of dome in Islamic Egypt.
The towers of Bab Al-Futuh are round and beautifully decorated, moreover they are dotted with arrow slits and openings for the pouring of boiling liquids on encroaching enemies. In past times, the great caravan of pilgrims returned each year from Mecca, entering this gate and making their way to the Citadel.

Twin towers of Bab Al-Futuh
Twin towers of Bab al-Futuh
Facade of Bab al-Futuh
This gate one of the earliest gates built with stones in Cairo
This gate one of the earliest gates built with stones in Cairo
People walking under the Bab al-Futuh
Locals sitting in the shadow of the city's old walls
Locals sitting in the shadow of the city's old walls
School children gathering in front of the Bab al-Futuh
School children gathering in front of the Bab al-Futuh
These three friends were coming to the Bab al-Futuh after their school
These three friends were coming to the Bab al-Futuh after their school
Now, they have realised that my camera lens was staring at them
Now, they have realised that my camera lens was staring at them