Was the lost city of Al-Qata'i the true precursor to modern Cairo?
In short: Explore the grand, short-lived capital founded by Ibn Tulun in 870 CE. This lecture examines the history of the Tulunid dynasty and the remains of their ambitious metropolis, which was modeled after the Abbasid city of Samarra.
In 870 CE, the Amir of Egypt, Ibn Tulun, established Al-Qata'i to serve as the capital for his new dynasty, the Tulunids. Designed to mirror the Abbasid city of Samarra in Iraq, the city represented a significant architectural and political statement. While it is often claimed that the ruler's mosque is the only surviving structure from this metropolis, the site remains a vital link in understanding the urban development that preceded modern Cairo.
The lecture is presented by Carl Graves, Director of the Egypt Exploration Society. Graves, who holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, specializes in landscape archaeology and the history of British Egyptology. His presentation contextualizes Al-Qata'i within the broader 'Wonders of Egypt' theme, shedding light on historical sites that are frequently overlooked.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Spotlight Lecture: Egypt's Forgotten Wonder: The lost city of Ibn Tulun
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