Bab al-Nasr (Cairo)

Bab al-Nasr ( ar, باب النصر, , Gate of Victory), is one of three remaining gates in the historic city wall of Cairo, the capital of Egypt. The gate's construction is dated to 1087 and was ordered by Badr al-Jamali, a Fatimid vizier. It is located at the northern end of ''Shari'a al-Gamaliya'' (al-Gamaliya Street) in the old city of Cairo and slightly east of another contemporary gate, Bab al-Futuh.

History

The original Bab al-Nasr was built south of the present one by Fatimid general Jawhar as-Siqilli during the reign of the Fatimid caliph al-Mu'izz, when the city was first laid out in 969. Later, the vizier Badr al-Jamali, under Caliph al-Mustansir, enlarged the city and rebuilt the walls in the late 11th century. He replaced the first gate with the present one, naming it Bab al-'Izz ('Gate of Prosperity'). Despite this, the inhabitants have shown preference to the original name meaning "Gate of Victory", which has remained in use to this day. An inscription on the gate dates its construction to the year 1087 AD (480 AH).

Napoleon later named each tower of the north wall after the officers responsible for its security. The names of these French officers are carved near the upper level of the gates, like for example that of Thomas-Prosper Julien, aide-de-camp of Bonaparte in Egypt.Laurent Jullien, ''Campagne d'Égypte de Bonaparte - L'affaire Alqam, ou l’assassinat de Thomas Prosper Jullien, aide de camp de Bonaparte en Égypte'', Éditions Universitaires Européennes, novembre 2016. The east tower is known as Tour Courbin and the west tower is known as Tour Julien.
File:Le Kaire (Cairo). Vue perspective de la porte appelée Bab el-Nasr (NYPL b14212718-1268757).jpg, Illustration of the gate in the ''Description de l'Égypte'', circa 1800
File:Bal-el-Nasr (Porte de la Victoire) extérieur au Caire - Bonfils. LCCN2004668076.jpg, alt=, Photograph of the gate in 1867
File:Bab en-Nasr (1878) - TIMEA.jpg, alt=, Drawing of the gate and its surroundings in 1878

Design

It is a massive fortified gate with rectangular stone towers flanking the semicircular arch of the eastern portal. The gate and the surrounding wall were carefully designed for defense. Arrow slits allowed defenders to shoot projectiles at enemies below and projecting towers made it possible to deliver flanking fire as well. Inside the walls and towers were guard rooms and living quarters, connected by vaulted passages. The vaulted stone ceilings inside the gate were innovative in design, in particular the helicoidal vaults of the stairways, which are the oldest of their kind in this architectural context.

File:Bab al-Nasr Cairo DSCF0037.jpg, alt=, View under the arch of the gate
File:Bab al-Nasr Cairo DSCF9209.jpg, alt=, Iinterior passage of the gate
File:Bab al-Nasr in 2017, photo by Hatem Moushir 09.jpg, alt=, View of the southern side of the gate, inside the city walls
A significant decorative feature is the shields on the flanks and fronts of the protruding towers, which symbolize victory in protecting the city against invaders. A long horizontal Arabic inscription that runs across the facade of the gate, above the shield motifs, names Badr al-Jamali and his caliph, al-Mustansir, and also gives the date of construction. The bulk of the inscription praises Badr al-Jamali in particular. The full inscription, translated from Arabic, reads:

A rectangular inscription panel above the arch of the gate contains a Shi'a version of the ''Shahada,'' claiming Fatimid belief in Muhammad as prophet and Ali as imam. The full inscription reads:

File:Bab al-Nasr Cairo DSCF0005.jpg, alt=, View of the eastern tower, with carved shield motifs and inscription above
File:Bab an-Nasr 2019-11-02b.jpg, alt=, A part of the long inscription praising Badr al-Jamali
File:Bab an-Nasr 2019-11-02a.jpg, alt=, Details of the outer (northern) façade of the gate
File:Bab al-Nasr Cairo DSCF9185.jpg, alt=, Inscription panel containing the ''Shahada''
File:Bab al-Nasr Cairo DSCF9186.jpg, alt=, Decorative shield and sword motif in the spandrel of the arch, with inscription above

See also

* Bab al-Futuh
* Bab Zuweila
* Gates of Cairo
* Jafar us Sadiq Bibliography
* List of Historic Monuments in Cairo

References

External links

at Archnet.org


Images at Archnet

Buildings and structures in Cairo
Tourist attractions in Cairo
Gates of Cairo
Fatimid architecture in Cairo
Muizz Street
Historical Monuments in Cairo
Fatimid fortifications

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