Aswan Necropolis
Aswan, Egypt

The Fatimid Cemetery in Aswan is one of the most important groups of Islamic tombs in Egypt. It is located on a 500 meter-wide strip of land stretching nearly 2 kilometers along the road. There are more than 1,000 tombs in the necropolis, dated in sources to various periods within the Fatimid reign. The tombs are mostly of mud brick, with some baked brick used in domes and arches, and range from simple rectangular enclosures to elaborate structures with domes, vaults, and mihrabs. The exterior of the tombs was originally covered with lime plaster, though that has now mostly worn off.

Sources:

Peterson, Andrew. "Egypt (excluding Cairo)." In Dictionary of Islamic Architecture, 79-80. New York: Routledge, 1996.

Technische Universität Berlin. West Asia North Africa Cooperation Unit. "The Fatimid Cemetery in Aswan." Accessed April 3, 2015. http://www.wanacu.tu-berlin.de/menue/activities/further_activities/the_fatimid_cemetery_in_aswan/.

Location

Suburb of al-Qatanniyya, Aswan, Egypt

Images & Videos

Associated Names

Events

10th-12th centuries

Style Periods

909-1171

Variant Names

Fatimid Mausolea
Alternate
Islamic Necropolis of Aswan
Alternate

Site Types

funerary

Materials/Techniques

Keywords