Kom El Shakafa is a tomb in Alexandria, Egypt, discovered in 1900. One of the most important of the six wonders of the Middle Ages is the Kom el Shakafa. A part of the tomb is called "Hall of Carcassonne" where the horse bones of Emperor Carcassonne of 215 AD are found.
The El Kom Shakafa underground tomb began in use around the second century and was used for the next 200 years. The cemetery is a mixture of Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures. The name ‘com el shakafa’ comes from the ancient Greek language, meaning ‘pile of broken pieces’. In ancient times this place was full of broken pottery. These earthenware pots were usually used for drinking wine and eating various foods. The relatives of the deceased who used to come to see this graveyard used to leave the pots here. As a result, the place has become a pile of these broken earthenware pots.
According to researchers, the site was originally used only as a family cemetery for a specific family. But later it was made bigger and open to others. However, Lom Shakafai is not the only cemetery in Alexandria. Rather it was a part of the huge necropolis known as the ‘City of the Dead’. This necropolis or city of the dead was on the west side of the city which was once destroyed. Only the lower part of the soil survives.
A huge tomb was located just above the ground of Kam El Shakafar. At present there survives only a round structure 18 feet wide that has gone directly underground. The structure is thought to have been used to transport corpses underground. This structure has some windows through which the outside light fell on the spiral staircase leading to the ground. There is not much in the upper part of the tomb. This is the main part of the cemetery and the only way to enter those underground cemeteries. The tombs are located in the middle of this place. It is modeled after a Greek temple. The most important things in a cemetery are here.
The first room to enter the temple is between the two pillars right where the stairs leading to the tombs end. Behind this house is another room where there is a nice work of art, a statue of men and women intertwined. It is thought to be a statue of two members of the first family in this cemetery. The statue is made in Egyptian style but the head of the man is made in Greek style. Similarly, the head of the female statue is made in Roman style. The combination of the three cultures has taken place in one sculpture.
There are sculptures of two snakes in the middle. It is thought to have been created in the light of the Greek ‘agathodymon’, known as the ‘good spirit’. Its wonderful feature is that it is also embellished with various elements of Roman and Egyptian culture. Just above the heads of these two snakes is the infamous Medusa in Greek mythology, to protect the tomb from uninvited visitors to the place.
At first, the middle of the cemetery was a corridor in the shape of the English letter U. However, as the number of corpses buried here gradually increased, more rooms and halls were built. As a result, the whole place becomes a maze. Just below the middle space is another level. However, this layer below the ground has been flooded and closed.
Kim El Shakafa is considered one of the best preserved specimens in all of Egypt. The unique blend of different cultures sets this place apart from all other places. And that is why this place has been recognized as one of the medieval wonders.
The El Kom Shakafa underground tomb began in use around the second century and was used for the next 200 years. The cemetery is a mixture of Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures. The name ‘com el shakafa’ comes from the ancient Greek language, meaning ‘pile of broken pieces’. In ancient times this place was full of broken pottery. These earthenware pots were usually used for drinking wine and eating various foods. The relatives of the deceased who used to come to see this graveyard used to leave the pots here. As a result, the place has become a pile of these broken earthenware pots.
According to researchers, the site was originally used only as a family cemetery for a specific family. But later it was made bigger and open to others. However, Lom Shakafai is not the only cemetery in Alexandria. Rather it was a part of the huge necropolis known as the ‘City of the Dead’. This necropolis or city of the dead was on the west side of the city which was once destroyed. Only the lower part of the soil survives.
A huge tomb was located just above the ground of Kam El Shakafar. At present there survives only a round structure 18 feet wide that has gone directly underground. The structure is thought to have been used to transport corpses underground. This structure has some windows through which the outside light fell on the spiral staircase leading to the ground. There is not much in the upper part of the tomb. This is the main part of the cemetery and the only way to enter those underground cemeteries. The tombs are located in the middle of this place. It is modeled after a Greek temple. The most important things in a cemetery are here.
The first room to enter the temple is between the two pillars right where the stairs leading to the tombs end. Behind this house is another room where there is a nice work of art, a statue of men and women intertwined. It is thought to be a statue of two members of the first family in this cemetery. The statue is made in Egyptian style but the head of the man is made in Greek style. Similarly, the head of the female statue is made in Roman style. The combination of the three cultures has taken place in one sculpture.
There are sculptures of two snakes in the middle. It is thought to have been created in the light of the Greek ‘agathodymon’, known as the ‘good spirit’. Its wonderful feature is that it is also embellished with various elements of Roman and Egyptian culture. Just above the heads of these two snakes is the infamous Medusa in Greek mythology, to protect the tomb from uninvited visitors to the place.
At first, the middle of the cemetery was a corridor in the shape of the English letter U. However, as the number of corpses buried here gradually increased, more rooms and halls were built. As a result, the whole place becomes a maze. Just below the middle space is another level. However, this layer below the ground has been flooded and closed.
Kim El Shakafa is considered one of the best preserved specimens in all of Egypt. The unique blend of different cultures sets this place apart from all other places. And that is why this place has been recognized as one of the medieval wonders.
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