Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
Lofus Kiramaikos (Greek) Ra-Qedil (Egypt) | |
31°10′43″N 29°53′35″E / 31.178558°N 29.892954°E | |
Location | Alexandria, Egypt |
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Type | Tomb, burial chamber, necropolis |
Height | 100 feet |
Beginning date | 2nd century |
The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (
The
Another feature of the catacombs is the Hall of Caracalla, which contains the bones of horses which were the tombs created for the horses of the emperor Caracalla in 215 CE.[4]
Catacombs
The catacombs were named Kom El Shoqafa, meaning Mound of Shards, because the area used to contain a mound of shards of
Layout
The catacombs lie beneath the western necropolis of Alexandria and consist of three levels cut through solid rock, the third level was completely underwater until recent restorations. The catacombs have a six-pillared central shaft which opens off the vestibule. On the left is a triclinium, a funeral banquet hall where friends and family gathered on stone couches covered with cushions, both at the time of burial and also on future commemorative visits.[6]
Visitors can reach the first level through a breach in the rotunda wall, which was made at an unknown date. This leads to the Hall of Caracalla in which the bones of horses and humans were found.[7]
Principal tomb chamber
At the front of the tomb chamber there is a temple-like façade consisting of two columns topped by papyrus, lotus, and acanthus leaves of ancient Egypt and supporting an architrave with a relief of a central winged sun-disk flanked by Horus falcons. A carved Agathodaemon in the form of a snake is flanking both sides of the entrance to the inner tomb. Each snake wears a Roman Caduceus and a Greek Thyrsus as well as the Egyptian Pschent and is topped by a shield showing a Medusa. Figures of a man and a woman are carved into the wall. The man's body has a stiff hieratic pose typical of Ancient Egyptian sculpture, with the head carved in the lifelike manner of the classic Hellenes. The woman's figure is also rigidly posed but bears the Roman hairstyle.[9]
There are three huge stone sarcophagi with non-removable covers along the sides of the chamber. It's assumed that bodies were inserted in them from behind, using a passageway which runs around the outside of the funeral chamber. There is a hallway with 91 inch deep walls in the central tomb chamber, with carved recesses, each providing burial space for three mummies. The sarcophagi are decorated with garlands and heads of Greek mythology gods. Each sarcophagus has associated a relief panel. The central panel shows the jackal-headed Anubis wearing Roman soldier garb, who mummifies a body lying on a lion bed. Below the bed are three canopic jars. The lateral panels show the Apis-bull receiving a gift.[9]
Gallery principal tomb chamber
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Entrance of the principal tomb chamber
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Central panel with Anubis mummifying a body
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Decorated sarcophagus and panel with Apus-bull
References
- – via Elsevier Science Direct.
- OCLC 01038938.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Planet, Lonely. "Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa in Alexandria, Egypt". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
- ^ Zahraa Adel Awed (2006-05-18). "The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, the Mound of Shards, Part III: The Hall of Caracalla (Nebengrab)". Tour Egypt. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ "The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa in Alexandria, Egypt". Vantage Travel. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
- ^ Planet, Lonely. "Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa in Alexandria, Egypt". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
- ^ "Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa Travel and Tour". Travel and Tour. October 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-108-21088-1.
- ^ a b A Phenomenological Approach to the Kom el-Shuqafa Catacombs Retrieved 24 March 2020.