Abu Qir (, ''Abu Qīr'', or , ), formerly also spelled Abukir or Aboukir, is a town on the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...
coast of
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
, near the ruins of ancient
Canopus
Canopus is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina (constellation), Carina and the list of brightest stars, second-brightest star in the night sky. It is also Bayer designation, designated α Carinae, which is Rom ...
and northeast of
Alexandria
Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...
by rail. It is located on Abu Qir Peninsula, with
Abu Qir Bay to the east.
Name
The town's present name is Arabic for "Father Cyrus", one of a pair of fourth century
Christian martyr
In Christianity, a martyr is a person who was killed for their testimony for Jesus or faith in Jesus. In the years of the early church, stories depict this often occurring through death by sawing, stoning, crucifixion, burning at the stake, or ...
s venerated as Saints
Cyrus and John by the
Coptic Church
The Coptic Orthodox Church (), also known as the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, is an Oriental Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Christian church based in Egypt. The head of the church and the Apostolic see, See of Alexandria i ...
.
History
The remains of many ancient buildings from the Egyptian, Greek and Roman periods can be found near the town. About southeast of the town are the ruins of the Ancient Egyptian coastal town of
Canopus
Canopus is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina (constellation), Carina and the list of brightest stars, second-brightest star in the night sky. It is also Bayer designation, designated α Carinae, which is Rom ...
. A little farther east, the now-dry Canopic branch of the
Nile
The Nile (also known as the Nile River or River Nile) is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa. It has historically been considered the List of river sy ...
once entered the Mediterranean.
The wide Abu Qir Bay (Khalīj Abū Qīr) stretches eastward from the town as far as the
Rosetta
Rosetta ( ) or Rashid (, ; ) is a port city of the Nile Delta, east of Alexandria, in Egypt's Beheira governorate. The Rosetta Stone was discovered there in 1799.
Founded around the 9th century on the site of the ancient town of Bolbitine, R ...
mouth of the Nile. On 1 August 1798 the bay was the location of the
Battle of the Nile
The Battle of the Nile (also known as the Battle of Aboukir Bay; ) was fought between the Royal Navy and the French Navy at Abu Qir Bay, Aboukir Bay in Ottoman Egypt, Egypt between 1–3 August 1798. It was the climax of the Mediterranean ca ...
, fought by the British Admiral
Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte ( – 21 October 1805) was a Royal Navy officer whose leadership, grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics brought about a number of decisive British naval victories during the French ...
. The battle is often referred to as the "Battle of Aboukir Bay", though this title is more properly applied to
Battle of Abukir of 1799, an engagement between the French expeditionary army and the Turks under
Mustapha Pasha fought on 25 July the following year. Later in the war, on 8 March 1801 at the beginning of the
Battle of Alexandria, units of the British army commanded by
Sir Ralph Abercromby landed from their transports near the town, and faced strenuous opposition from General Louis Friant's French forces entrenched on the beach.
The battle continued further down the peninsula toward Alexandria and did not end until 22 March.
The town contains a castle that was used as a state prison by
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...
in the early 19th century. The prison was known as Liman Abu Qir.
In 2000, an Italian archaeological team discovered the remains of British officers, sailors, marines, women, and children on
Nelson's Island, which lies in the bay.
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as
hot desert (BWh), but it lies at the
northern coast of Egypt
The Northern Coast of Egypt (, , . ''"The Northern Egyptian Coast"'' extends for about along the Mediterranean Sea, it covers entirely the northern territory of Egypt. It is one of the longest Mediterranean coastlines, and is popularly known o ...
, moderating its temperatures. Due to its proximity to
Alexandria
Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...
, it has a very similar climate. The wettest places in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
are
Rafah
Rafah ( ) is a city in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, and the capital of the Rafah Governorate. It is located south-west of Gaza City. In 2017, Rafah had a population of 171,889. Due to the Gaza war, about 1.4 million people from Gaza C ...
, Alexandria, Abu Qir,
Rosetta
Rosetta ( ) or Rashid (, ; ) is a port city of the Nile Delta, east of Alexandria, in Egypt's Beheira governorate. The Rosetta Stone was discovered there in 1799.
Founded around the 9th century on the site of the ancient town of Bolbitine, R ...
,
Baltim
Baltim ( ) is a city in the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, in the north coast of Egypt.
History
The second part of the town's name preserves "end, furthest part (of Egypt)".
Baltim was the beneficiary of a tax reduction under the reign o ...
,
Kafr El Dawwar,
Mersa Matruh
Mersa Matruh (), also transliterated as Marsa Matruh ( Standard Arabic ''Marsā Maṭrūḥ'', ), is a port in Egypt and the capital of Matrouh Governorate. It is located west of Alexandria and east of Sallum on the main highway from the Nile ...
.
See also
*
History of Christianity in Egypt
*
HMS ''Aboukir''
*
RAF Aboukir
*
Lake Mariout
Notes
References
*
*
Attribution:
*
External links
*
{{Authority control
Populated places in Alexandria Governorate