Bab El Nasr Cairo Egypt, tours, booking, prices, reviews
Bab El Nasr Cairo is a massive gate in Cairo, Egypt. In fact, it is one of famous three massive gates. Al Gamali was governor of Acre in 1074. The Fatimid caliph, Al Mustansir called him to put down a revolt. The revolt was of the Turkish military commanders and their troops. After executing the rebels, Al Gamali’s first task was to reinforce the defenses of Cairo. It was besides to rebuild Gawhar’s brick wall, which collapsed. He did so with stone, which marked the beginning of a newly cultivated taste for stone in Cairo. But, it should realized that a considerable amount of stone that he used originated in the Giza necropolis. So this also marks the destruction of many of those Pharaonic monuments around Cairo.
In 1087, Cairo was not much of a fortified city with its sun dried brick walls which built by Gawhar. Though this weakness demonstrated itself on occasions. Badr ad-Din el-Gamali, employed three Christian Syrian monks. One named John the Monk from Edessa. This is to build the three main gateways of the Fatimid wall. These massive gates called Bab Al Futuh (Gate of Conquest), Bab El Nasr Cairo (Gate of Victory) and Bab Zuweila. In fact, the gates mark the southern and northern boundaries of the ancient city. The present site replaced the original one, built by Gawhar a little to the south. Badr named it Bab Al Izz (Gate of Glory). The tradition of the people prevailed and its name never actually changed.
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In fact, Bab El Nasr Cairo is the only one of the three major gates of ancient Cairo. In fact, the gates composed of two rectangular towers. Moreover, those of both Bab Al Futuh and Bab Zuweila have rounded towers. Bab El Nasr Cairo towers are solid stone up to the second level. This tower is perhaps the least decorated of the three. Moreover, the inscription over the entrance gives the name of Badr Al Gamali. Above the entrance arch an inscription slab in Kufic carries the shahada with the Shi’a reference to Ali. Furthermore, the towers let the defenders to deliver flanking fire. They also let them trying to scale the wall between the towers. The defenders could move from tower to tower under complete cover. Thus, they can guard rooms, living quarters and supply points.
Moreover, they also make each section of the wall a fortress in itself. Bab El Nasr has a significant feature of decoration. It is the the shields and swords that Creswell identifies as Byzantine in shape. In fact, some point downward while others are circular. They no doubt are symbolic of the protection that the walls afford against invaders. In fact, the name, “Gate of Victory,” like Bab Al Futuh, “Gate of Conquest,” should also understood as talismanic. These fine walls, really initially built to protect Cairo from the Seljuk Turks, never challenged by invaders. They were so encroached upon by other buildings which travelers often reported that Cairo had no fortification at all.
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Al Ma’mum Al Bata’ihi was the vizier during the reign of the Caliph Al Amir. He built the Al Aqmar Mosque. Moreover, he transferred the observatory from the Muqattam hill and established it at Bab El Nasr. The transportation of the heavy metal observatory was an difficult task. It needed scaffolds, wheels and a large team of workers and. It also needed an architectural structure to support it. Al Ma’mun fell into disgrace before the observatory could used. The angry Caliph ordered it to dismounted because it named Al Rasad Al Ma’muni. It attributed it to the vizier rather than to the Caliph.
Bonaparte’s troops used Bab Al Nasr Cairo to protect themselves from the rebellious Cairo population. The Husayniyya quarter was famous for its untamed and violent character. It was not easy to subdue. French officer of Polish origin, Schulkowky, killed by a Husayniyya resident. That is why the French troops bombarded the Husayniyya from these walls. They demolished the district. French officers’ names still carved near the upper level of the gates. The French blocked up the crenelations at the top and enlarged the arrow slits for canon holes.
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The other towers of the northern wall, Napoleon’s troops renamed the eastern tower Tour Corbin. The western one Tour Julien, after two of his aides-de-camp. Of course, these names left with the French. Creswell also attributes the Machicoulis at Bab Al Nasr Cairo, to the French. Machicoulis is a protruding structure used to spill burning liquids on attackers. It was not until the 20th century that the walls cleared of various obstructions. It is including more modern buildings and made visible again. Apart from being great representatives of Islamic military architecture, all three of these gates particularly important. They are among the few examples of military work predating the Crusades.
