Dr KR Viswanthan
۵ ماه قبل
FORTRESS OF BABYLON - WHERE EMPIRES CONVERGE IN QUIET GRANDEUR We visited the historic Fortress of Babylon in Cairo one pleasant afternoon in January 2026 as part of a large group from India touring Egypt. Located in the heart of Old Cairo’s Coptic quarter, this remarkable site offered us a deeply evocative journey through layers of civilisation. We were told that the ancient city of Memphis is not far from here. The approach itself is memorable. Walking through the narrow, winding streets of Coptic Cairo, lined with ancient walls and timeless structures, we felt transported back centuries. Fortunately, the area was not very crowded that afternoon, allowing us to absorb the surroundings in relative calm and reflect on the immense historical significance of the place. Standing before the towering stone remnants of the Roman-era fortress was truly surreal. These massive walls and bastions, built nearly two millennia ago, have silently witnessed the transition of Egypt from its ancient Pharaonic heritage to the Greek and later Roman periods. One cannot help but feel humbled by the continuity of history embodied here. The fortress once served as a strategic military stronghold along the Nile and later became the nucleus around which early Christian communities of Cairo flourished. Today, the remains of the fortress coexist harmoniously with some of the most revered churches and monuments of Coptic Cairo, making the entire area a living museum of faith and history. Our visit here was not merely about viewing old stones but about experiencing a space where civilisations intersected and evolved. For anyone interested in history and heritage, the Fortress of Babylon offers a rare and contemplative encounter with the enduring legacy of Egypt’s past.