ThoughtGallery.org > Cairo: The City of 1,000 Minarets

Cairo: The City of 1,000 Minarets

Join Iman R. Abdulfattah, PhD Candidate in Islamic Art and Archaeology at Universität Bonn, for a visual journey into the riches of the art and architecture of this important metropolis.

When the Fatimid dynasty conquered Egypt in 969 AD, they founded a fortified palatine city to serve as their new administrative center. This new city, named al-Qahira – meaning “The Victorious” – gave the present capital its name.

Since the 10th century, Cairo has served as a major center of the Islamicate world and seat of several important dynasties, reaching its apogee under the Mamluks (1250-1516 AD), who gave it an architectural character that symbolized the image of the Islamic city for centuries. These empires also left behind a staggering number of impressive buildings meant to emphasize courtly patronage and dominate the panorama of the city, lending Cairo the nickname of the City of 1,000 Minarets.

Today, more than 400 extant registered historic Islamic monuments survive tucked away amid the modern urban sprawl, many of which remain largely overshadowed by their more ancient counterparts.











When: Mon., Mar. 9, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: The National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park S.
212-475-3424
Price: Free
Buy tickets/get more info now
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Join Iman R. Abdulfattah, PhD Candidate in Islamic Art and Archaeology at Universität Bonn, for a visual journey into the riches of the art and architecture of this important metropolis.

When the Fatimid dynasty conquered Egypt in 969 AD, they founded a fortified palatine city to serve as their new administrative center. This new city, named al-Qahira – meaning “The Victorious” – gave the present capital its name.

Since the 10th century, Cairo has served as a major center of the Islamicate world and seat of several important dynasties, reaching its apogee under the Mamluks (1250-1516 AD), who gave it an architectural character that symbolized the image of the Islamic city for centuries. These empires also left behind a staggering number of impressive buildings meant to emphasize courtly patronage and dominate the panorama of the city, lending Cairo the nickname of the City of 1,000 Minarets.

Today, more than 400 extant registered historic Islamic monuments survive tucked away amid the modern urban sprawl, many of which remain largely overshadowed by their more ancient counterparts.

Buy tickets/get more info now