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| ==Modern Fustat== | ==Modern Fustat== | ||
| Little remains of the grandeur of the old city. |
Little remains of the grandeur of the old city. In 1168 it was completely burned by the order of Egypt's own vizier, ]. In modern times, some of Fustat's old buildings remain visible in Cairo's "Old City," but much of the rest has fallen into disrepair, ovegrown with weeds or used as garbage dumps. The first Mosque ever built in Egypt, the Mosque of Amr, is still visible, but has been extensively rebuilt over the centuries and nothing remains of the original structure. | ||
| In some places, original house walls can be seen, and the paths of streets are still visible. A great deal of archaeological excavations have been done, and some buildings have been partially-reconstructed to waist height, but the site is difficult and dangerous to access because of the nearby slums. | In some places, original house walls can be seen, and the paths of streets are still visible. A great deal of archaeological excavations have been done, and some buildings have been partially-reconstructed to waist height, but the site is difficult and dangerous to access because of the nearby slums. | ||
Revision as of 22:57, 13 August 2007
Fustat (Template:Lang-ar), also spelled Fostat, was the first capital city of Egypt under Arab rule. It was built by Amr ibn al-As right after the Arab conquest of Egypt in 641 CE, and reached its peak in the 9th century, when it had a population of approximately 120,000. Initially a major trading center and the home of the Caliph, it was the center of administrative power in Egypt, but was eventually absorbed by Cairo, which was built to the north of Fostat during the Fatimid era. Today, Fustat is part of the 'Old Egypt' District in Cairo, with few buildings remaining from that era.
The city was Egypt's first on-Nile capital since the time of the Pharaohs, when Thebes and Memphis had been the capitals. Under Roman rule it was known as Misr, and then its Muslim conquerors renamed it as Fustat in 641.
History
After Alexander the Great's invasion and conquest of Egypt, Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast, became Egypt's capital for hundreds of years. When Alexandria fell in September 641, a new capital was needed. Alexandria could not be used because Caliph Umar did not want a capital on the western side of the Nile -- he did not want a body of water separating it from Arabia. So the capital was founded on the eastern side, centered on the tent of the commander of the conquering army.
The city's name comes from the Arabic word Fustat (فسطاط) which means tent. According to tradition, the location of Fustat was chosen by a bird: A dove laid an egg in the tent on Amr ibn al-'As, the Muslim conqueror of Egypt, just before he was to march on Alexandria. He declared the site of the egg sacred, and when he returned from battle, he told his soldiers to pitch their tents around his, giving his new capital city its name, "Town of the tents", Misr al-Fustat. Egypt's first Islamic mosque, the Mosque of Amr was later built on the same site in 642, and the name "Misr" because the Arabic name for Egypt.
Layout
The early population was composed almost entirely of soldiers and their families, and the layout of the city was similar to that of a garrison. It grew into a series of tribal areas, khittas, around the central mosque and administrative buildings. The majority of the settlers came from Yemen, with the next largest grouping from western Arabia, along with some Jews and Roman mercenaries.
The city was renowned for its beauty, with shaded streets, gardens, and markets. There were reports of houses that were seven stories tall, and could accommodate hundreds of people. The markets were renowned for wonderful wares: iridescent pottery, crystal, and many fruits and flowers available, even during the winter months. Modern archaelogical digs have turned up artifacts from as far away as Spain, China, and Vietnam. Many objects can be seen in the Museum of Islamic Art.
Fustat was the beautiful capital and home of the Caliph and his court, and was considered the center of power in Egypt under the Ummayads. But the nearby city of Cairo, founded by the Fatimids, was growing as well. Eventually Caliph al-Mo'ezz decided to move his Court to Cairo, and Fustat's power diminished.
Modern Fustat
Little remains of the grandeur of the old city. In 1168 it was completely burned by the order of Egypt's own vizier, Shawar. In modern times, some of Fustat's old buildings remain visible in Cairo's "Old City," but much of the rest has fallen into disrepair, ovegrown with weeds or used as garbage dumps. The first Mosque ever built in Egypt, the Mosque of Amr, is still visible, but has been extensively rebuilt over the centuries and nothing remains of the original structure.
In some places, original house walls can be seen, and the paths of streets are still visible. A great deal of archaeological excavations have been done, and some buildings have been partially-reconstructed to waist height, but the site is difficult and dangerous to access because of the nearby slums.
Notes
- Tore Kjeilin. "Fustat". Encyclopaedia of the Orient. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Alison Gascoigne. "Islamic Cairo". egyptvoyager.com. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
References
- Amitav Ghosh, In an Antique Land (Vintage Books, 1994). ISBN 0-679-72783-3
- Janet L. Abu-Lughod, Cairo: 1001 Years of the City Victorious (Princeton University Press, 1971), ISBN 0691030855
- Irene Beeson (September/October 1969). "Cairo, a Millenial". Saudi Aramco World. pp. 24, 26–30. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
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30°00′N 31°14′E / 30.000°N 31.233°E / 30.000; 31.233
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