Saladin Citadel
Historical background and significance of the saladin
citadel.
The Citadel of Saladdin became the fulcrum of
this imposing fortification work, which protected the city
from the heights that surmounted it. Completed in 1183 AD,
the Citadel of Saladin became the seat of government in
Egypt for 700 years, until the khedive Ismail had it
transferred to the Abdin Palace, within the then-recent
Downtown complex, in the 1870s
Citadel of Salah Al Din
Historical overview of the citadel of salah al-din.
Salah al-Din built the citadel to protect the
city from the Crusaders, drawing inspiration from the walled
citadels of Damascus and Aleppo. He ordered the construction
of a wall that spanned almost 20 kilometers and connected to
the banks of the Nile, with the city lying safe within. He
also ordered the construction of a well, 85 meters deep,
that would supply water to the fortress and its inhabitants.
The well, which bears the name of the famous ruler and which
still exists today, was powered by two waterwheels driven by
oxen that would carry the water up to the surface; at the
time this was a major feat of engineering and is one of the
few remaining features of the original structure
Citadel of salah el din
Historical significance and architectural features of the
citadel of salah el din.
The Citadel of Salah El Din is the most famous
monument in Egypt and is deeply connected to Islamic
culture. Located in Cairo, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Zahir
Baybars built it as a fortress. The Citadel stands on a hill
in the center of Cairo, also known as the Mokattam Hill. It
consists of an outer wall with 12 towers and two gates. It
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979
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