kom el shokafa catacombs, Alexandria

One of the main tourist sites are the catacombs that exhibit a combination of traditional Egyptian beliefs and Hellenistic changes. They are interesting but not spectacular in comparison to the more ancient tombs elsewhere in the country.

Near the tombs there is a scenic residential quarter which is on the photo. Photography in the tombs was prohibited.

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The catacomb of Kom El-Shuqafa (Shoqafa, Shaqafa) is one of Alexandria's most memorable monuments. The Catacombs of Kom el-Shukafa ("Hill of Potsherds") were hewn from the rock on the southern slopes of a hill in the second century A.D. The catacombs, which may have been the burial place of a particular religious community, were discovered in 1900. They are laid out on several levels.

A spiral staircase with a large circular light shaft runs down two stories from the entrance, the lower of which is generally under water.
Off the upper level opens a rotunda with a domed roof, to the right of which are two smaller chambers with niches, sarcophagi and loculi (shelf tombs).

Open 9.00 – 17.00. Entrance fee LE25 ($5). You may see my ticket at the second pic. Photo and video forbidden.

You may watch my high resolution photos on Google Earth in Alexandria Catacombs according to the following coordinates 31º 10' 43.98" N 29º 53' 35.11" E
or on my Google Earth Panoramio Photo 1, Photo 2.

The Kom As-Shouqafa Catacombs were accidentally discovered when a donkey and cart fell through the ground revealing the underground chambers and tombs.

The tombs, on three levels, also contains the Triclinium, where relatives used to sit on stone benches to feast the dead, and a central tomb with reliefs of bearded serpents. Inside are 2nd century AD statues of Sobek and Anubis wearing Roman armour.

No photography inside though.

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It is located in Kom-El-Shogafa, believed was established in 200AD. It will be located on the last end of your left from the entance gate. It looks like an underground graveyard. The catacomb was found accidently by `a digging donkey`. You have to go down through narrow and steep stairs almost a hundred steps. You can see the hole where they brought down the bodies to the underground right into the mummification case, located in the middle. From the mummification area, there will be some coridors lead you to hundreds of `corpse lockers`.After the mummification, the body will be placed in `a locker` along with its sarchopagus. When it was found, no mummies have been found. They speculated that they were destroyed by the underground water and humidity. You may see the swampy floor on many places in this catacomb. There is a room, where they found horses bone on the other side of the main area. `The lockers` are bigger and nobody know if they have been mummified too. Wear your comfortable, unslippery, light shoes when you come to this catacomb. Be ready for an exercise : climbing the stairs. :-)

The entrance fee was 25LE in February 2007. The toilet will be located on your left (facing the entrance gate) before the gate. Keep 1 or 2LE notes ready for the toiletkeepers. You may see some sarchopagus and small park before the entrance gate. You can not bring the camera after the security checking at the entrance gate. There will be two main tombs in this area, The Catacombs ( on your left last end, underground) and Tigran Tomb (on the ground, facing the entrance door). You may see some statues and handcrafts on the yard. Get yourself ready for narrow and steep stairs at the catacombs. Wear comfortable, unslippery and light shoes. Read my other tips for each tombs.

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It will be located in the same complex of Catacombs. Unlike catacombs, this tomb is located on the ground, not underground. The tomb is facing the main entrance of the complex. Tigran family is believed as a royal family in Alexandria during the Roman time. You may see the mixture of Roman and Egypt art on the wall painting. The royal family was treated as the `co-ruler` for Romans when they occupied Alexandria and still had their rights as royal family among the people.

You go down to the catacombs via a spiral stairway around 35 meters. The central tomb is special. There is a head of the Medusa and ancient Egyptian gods, dress up in roman armour.
It´s not allowed to take pictures inside the area.
Entrance fee in 2005 was 20 L.E (Egyptian pound)

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This place is about 5-10 min walk from the Pompey's Pillar. The site is underground and quite inpressive in its own way. Admission fee 20 EGP and strictly no camera inside. The gurad will inspect your bag to ensure that.