City of the Dead

The City of the Dead, or Al-Qarāfah, is a unique district in Cairo, Egypt, characterized by an extensive series of cemeteries. This area features elaborate shrine-mosques and mausoleums of early religious leaders, with Mamluk architecture being prominent among the major monuments. While historically a burial ground, rapid population growth has led to housing and shops being built within the City of the Dead, where over a million Cairenes now reside, many without official utilities. The district's ochre hues and ancient structures stand in contrast to the greener, more modern areas along the Nile. Ancient Egyptians held a strong belief in an afterlife, with elaborate preparations made for the deceased's journey, as detailed in texts like the Book of the Dead.123