The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.Located in the ancient Alexandria of ancient Egypt, these catacombs are sometimes known as a funeral banquet hall from the Greco Roman period. It is an extremely important historical, archaeological site where you can see big stone coffins and stone couches along with contemporary Roman clothes at the Greco Roman museum. They’re in Egypt, in Alexandria. Alexandria possessed a lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World during the Hellenistic period (after Alexander the Great’s death). It had a fantastic library too. It is Egypt’s second-largest city today.The Kom el Shoqafa Catacombs are also known as a necropolis, which means ‘city of the dead.’ Inside, three sarcophagi (mummy coffins) have been discovered. The catacombs were built in the second century and are still in use today, which is incredible! Kom El Shoqafa translates to ‘Mound of Shards.’ This is because the region used to be littered with broken ceramic pieces. Visitors visiting the tombs would leave them when they arrived with food and wine. Mounds of these broken plates were uncovered when the catacombs were unearthed. The catacombs are carved down into solid rock underneath. A banquet hall is available, where visitors can eat and drink with the deceased. The second floor contains numerous sculptures as well as three massive stone coffins. The third level is totally submerged at this point.In 1900, a donkey fell down the tunnel leading to the buried location, which led to the discovery of the catacombs. In the catacombs, there is a corridor that leads to the Hall of Caracalla. Although this area was not intended to be a tomb, it was discovered to contain numerous human and horse bones. It’s supposed to be a mass grave for Alexandrian residents slain by Caracalla, the Roman Emperor. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are an indication of Alexandria’s cultural diversity during the time. Archeologists have discovered artifacts with Greek, Roman, and Egyptian influences. The public can now visit the catacombs, which are accessed through a spiral staircase where bodies were originally dropped into the rooms below by ropes.Do you know about catacombs and their origin? Do you know about the interior design of catacombs? Have you heard about Kom El Shoqafa? There is a lot to know about the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Read on to know more about the historical importance of the burial space connected with a circular staircase. Afterward, also check Aztec pyramids facts and biggest pyramids in Egypt.Origin Of Catacombs The Kom catacombs are a maze of tunnels, tunnel El Shofaqa, commonly known as the Treasure Hill, is a massive necropolis and royal cemetery dating from the second century AD. The wall murals, as well as the sculptures, burial objects, and tombs, display a unique blend of Roman, Hellenistic, and pharaonic art elements. In the Middle Ages, the archeological site was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.The Catacombs Interior DesignThe underground catacombs are a little frightening; the scene of carved stone graves close to each other provides the impression of genuine horror while also providing a historical ambiance. The Ptolemaic Kingdom was located in Egypt and followed in the footsteps of the ancient Egyptians in building underground concealed tombs for pharaohs and their wives. The Egyptians had such an impact on the Ptolemies that they believed in their conceptions of death, afterlife journeys, and gods, as seen by the catacombs, which display the pharaonic identity alongside the Roman character. The catacombs are a series of Alexandrian tombs that extend deep down and are made up of three levels of 114 ft (35 m) long burial chambers carved out of bedrock. The three levels are reached through a spherical entrance; the third level is inundated by groundwater leaks and cannot be accessed. The catacombs are normally entered through a spherical shaft with steps leading to the main tomb and the centerpiece, an antechamber with columns. The inner sanctum is reached via this central component. Cravings for Egyptian god Anubis (the god of the dead) costumed as Romans, as well as statues of Roman emperors who governed Egypt during this time, cover the antechamber. The antechamber is the most important sight in the catacombs because it contains all of the decorations and statues.The Origin of the NameBecause of the vast amount of pottery shards and quarries that were gathering in this area, the Kom El Shoqafa was given this name.The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa is also known as (the mount of shards) in reference to the clay pieces and stone mud building that were left behind. In fact, there are far too many names for this archeological site. It was dubbed catacombs by some because it resembled the Christian catacombs of Rome. Arab, on the other hand, came later and gave it a name (the treasure hill).Kom El Shoqafa HistoryThe catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, literally meaning Mound of Shards, are a medieval archeological site in Alexandria, Egypt, and are regarded as one of the Middle Ages’ Seven Wonders.Many of the elements of the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa combine Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultural points due to the historical period; some sculptures are Egyptian in style yet wear Roman attire and hairstyles, while other features have a similar style. A circular stairway, which was frequently used to transfer deceased bodies through the middle, leads down into the Antonine emperors’ graves, which were tunneled into the bedrock.From the second through the fourth centuries, the structure was used as a burial chamber before being unearthed in 1900. So far, three sarcophagi have been discovered, along with other human and animal remains discovered later. The catacombs were originally intended for a single-family, but it’s unclear why they were expanded to accommodate so many more people. The Hall of Caracalla, which houses the bones of horses that were the graves erected for the emperor Caracalla’s horses in 215 AD, is another landmark of the catacombs.Because the location used to include a hill of shards of terra cotta, which largely consisted of jars and things made of clay, the catacombs were given the name Kom El Shoqafa, which means Mound of Shards. Visitors to the graves would bring food and drink for consumption during their visit, and these artifacts were left by them. They did not want to transport these containers home from this area of death, so they broke them.Tours To Catacombs Of Kom El ShoqafaA spiral stairway at the complex’s center leads to the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Visitors are welcome to roam around, albeit only the top two floors are open to the public due to the lower level being submerged most of the time.The first floor is dominated by a massive funeral feast hall, which would be used by family and/or mourners. One of the reasons why scientists believe the tombs were originally built for one family is because the banquet hall features a number of rock-carved chairs, couches, and tables. Because of the many sculptures that have survived to this day, descending the stone stairway to the second level gives one an unusually frightening impression. It’s almost as if the sculptures provide the impression that the tombs were never truly vacated. You’ll also come across three enormous stone coffins that have been built in such a way that they cannot be opened. The question is how they were able to bury people in coffins that could not be opened. The victims were dragged into the coffins through a tunnel that runs around the perimeter of the main funeral chamber, according to researchers.There are also several rock-carved recesses, each of which is large enough to contain three mummies. You can also witness the rather grisly Hall of Caracalla if you opt to enter the first level through a breach in the outer rotunda wall. When Emperor Caracalla ordered the killing of countless people in 215 AD, this hall was used as a mass grave place. A large quantity of human and animal bones was uncovered when the hall was originally rediscovered.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, then why not take a look at tallest manmade monument or Cleopatra facts.
The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.
