Ancient Archaeology and World Heritage

The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa  (which translates to "Mound of Shards") is an archaeological site located in Alexandria, Egypt. Estimated to have been initially constructed during the 2nd Century CE , it is considered to be one of the “Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages” (the other six being: the Colosseum in Rome, Italy; the Great Wall of China; Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey; the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy; Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, China; and Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England). The catacombs consist of Alexandrian tombs, statues and artifacts related to the Pharaonic funerary cult. Due to the period of its’ construction, many features of the tomb are a combination of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultures. The facility was used as a burial chamber from the 2nd Century CE to the 4th Century CE . It is believed that the catacombs were initially intended for a single family, even though the facility was later expanded to house numerous other individuals. The catacombs ...

Discovered in 1952 CE within the eastern necropolis of Alexandria, the Tigrane Tomb was subsequently relocated to the archaeological site currently known as the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Even though the tomb had originally consisted of one room fitted with loculi and another in the form of a triclinium-shaped burial chamber, only the burial chamber has been removed from the ground and currently on display. Dating back to the 2 nd Century CE, many features of the tomb including the art within the walls depicts a combination of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultures, similar what is visible within the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Two Roman style statues are displayed on either side of the entrance to the relocated tomb. The two roman style statues displayed on either side of the entrance to the tomb The entrance walls on either side of the burial chamber are decorated with the image of a male figure placed in a panel under an "Apis" bull (Apis was the most important and hi...