In Alexandria (Egypt) the Kom el Shokafa catacombs are located, which are an important archaeological site of the Middle Ages.
The tombs were carved into the rock at the end of the 1st century AD. The catacombs were originally intended as a burial chamber for members of one family only, but the private project was expanded to include 300 famous people of the ancient world.
This unique place combines the features of ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian art.
The corridors of the necropolis are a real work of art.
The necropolis consists in fact of a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological sites of the burial cult of the pharaohs with Hellenistic and early Imperial Roman influences
Kom el-Shukafa means a mound of shards or shards. The name comes from the fact that the place used to contain a mound of terracotta fragments, which mainly consisted of jugs and objects made of clay. These items were left behind by those who visited the tombs, they brought food and wine for consumption during the visit. However, back home, they did not take these dishes from this place of death, and smashed them side by side.
On the western side of the catacombs, according to Egyptian burial practice, is the city of the Dead, and in this part there were many vessels and ceramic vessels.
The Caracalla Hall is the entrance to the largest Roman mass burial chamber in Egypt.
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The Kom el-Shukafa catacombs consist of 3 levels, carved into solid rock
The catacombs reach 30.5 meters underground in solid rock, which indicates a high level of technological abilities of the people who built them.
The tombs are truly remarkable, and their existence bears testimony to a tremendous technical feat. The funerary motifs are purely Ancient Egyptian, but architects and artists were trained in the Greco-Roman style. Applied to themes of ancient Egyptian religion, it has resulted in an amazing integrated art that is completely unlike anything else in the world. For example, some statues are Egyptian in style, but the hairstyles and clothing are Roman, while other features share a similar style.
Statue in the catacombs of Kom el-Shukaf.
At the entrance to the Kom el-Shukaf catacombs, there is a circular staircase that takes the visitor several levels deep into the ground. On the left is the room where the mourners of the deceased will sit and bring offerings. Another staircase leads down to a room full of sculptures.
Entrance to the burial chamber.
The first level has a corridor that leads to a room called the Hall of Caracalla. This is a mass burial chamber. Although this room was not intended to be a grave, it does contain the bones of young Christian men killed by order of the Emperor Caracalla in 215 AD, as well as the bones of a horse.
The room in front of the main tomb.
The lobby and central tomb are the main chambers. They are illuminated by a single light bulb that illuminates the camera in a greenish color. In the center of the façade, under a frieze of snakes, a familiar solar disk is carved. Left and right are two serpents wearing the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.
3 sarcophagi were found in the catacombs. The Kom el-Shukafa catacombs are a testament to the 3 cultures, religions and arts that came together on Egyptian soil. They were accidentally discovered in 1900, when a donkey, passing through this area, fell to the lower floor. Almost 100 years later, in 1995. after colossal work they were open to visitors.