DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0096
CAIRO.
85
I'acteristic reverence of spirit, regarded by them as peculiarly
sacred."
But it is time to leave the river; and Cairo first invites our
notice.
This is essentially an Arabian city. In the year 63S Amer
conquered Egypt, and wrested it from the Byzantine emperors;
and he founded Fostat, or Old Cairo, on the banks of the Nile.
In 868, Tooloon, who governed Egypt under the Caliph, threw
°ff his allegiance, and built, to the eastward of Fostat, a palace
and a mosque, which served as the nucleus of the present
Cairo. In 923, the Fatimites invaded Egypt successfully,
and, extending to the eastward of the mosque of Tooloon,
founded the present city. At length the renowned Saladin
became sovereign of Egypt and Syria, and added largely to
Cairo, strongly fortifying it, and building a citadel on Mount
^lokattam. During the Crusades, efforts were made more
than once by the Christian armies to take it; but it never fell
iQto their hands.
" Cairo has been well described as occupying the natural
Centre of Egypt. Heliopolis was only five miles below, and
'he site of Memphis not more than ten miles above the pre-
Sent capital. The position commands the approaches to
Upper Egypt, and is upon the direct and natural thorough-
fare between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. It is at pre-
Sent nearly three miles from the Nile, a branch of which, how-
eVer» formerly flowed much nearer to it, and about twelve
r***8* south of the upper or southern termination of the Delta.
ere the river is divided into two channels, through which
lts Waters flow into the Mediterranean, one diverging to the
^orthwest, the other to the northeast, thus giving a triangu-
ar form to the alluvial region below. Cairo is chiefly built
85
I'acteristic reverence of spirit, regarded by them as peculiarly
sacred."
But it is time to leave the river; and Cairo first invites our
notice.
This is essentially an Arabian city. In the year 63S Amer
conquered Egypt, and wrested it from the Byzantine emperors;
and he founded Fostat, or Old Cairo, on the banks of the Nile.
In 868, Tooloon, who governed Egypt under the Caliph, threw
°ff his allegiance, and built, to the eastward of Fostat, a palace
and a mosque, which served as the nucleus of the present
Cairo. In 923, the Fatimites invaded Egypt successfully,
and, extending to the eastward of the mosque of Tooloon,
founded the present city. At length the renowned Saladin
became sovereign of Egypt and Syria, and added largely to
Cairo, strongly fortifying it, and building a citadel on Mount
^lokattam. During the Crusades, efforts were made more
than once by the Christian armies to take it; but it never fell
iQto their hands.
" Cairo has been well described as occupying the natural
Centre of Egypt. Heliopolis was only five miles below, and
'he site of Memphis not more than ten miles above the pre-
Sent capital. The position commands the approaches to
Upper Egypt, and is upon the direct and natural thorough-
fare between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. It is at pre-
Sent nearly three miles from the Nile, a branch of which, how-
eVer» formerly flowed much nearer to it, and about twelve
r***8* south of the upper or southern termination of the Delta.
ere the river is divided into two channels, through which
lts Waters flow into the Mediterranean, one diverging to the
^orthwest, the other to the northeast, thus giving a triangu-
ar form to the alluvial region below. Cairo is chiefly built