Catacombs+of+Kom+el+Shoqafa

= ** The Catacombs of Kom el Shoquafa ** = = Alexandria, Egypt =

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﻿Catacombs are human-made underground passageways to burial sites or places of protection. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, or Royal Cemetary of Kom el Shoqafa, date back to the 1st century A.D. and were believed to be used until the 4th century A.D. They were discovered in 1900 by accident when a donkey fell into a pit which lead to the discovery of the tombs. =====

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The Catacombs are named so because they closely resemeble the architectual style of the Christian Catacombs in Rome. Beleived to be a private tomb at first, The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa were later made into a public cemetary. The Catacombs contain 3 different levels that are built into the rock. It also consists of a circular staircase that leads down into the actual Catacombs, a banquet hall, a vestibule, and burial chambers. The rock structure in the Catacombs is extrememly detailed with grooves and designs. There are some Greek elements that line the burial corridors, such as statues of Greek Mythology figures and artistic Greek designs in the rock. =====

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The central tomb is the most intriguing. Three sarcophogi with lids that do not lift lie around the sides of the chamber. Scholars believe that bodies would have been inserted from behind using a passage way that runs around the outside of the central tomb. Further circling the central tomb is a hallway with 91 slots, each one providing a burial spot for three mummies.=====

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Visitors can also view many other halls and passage ways. One of the more popular sites is the Hall Of Caracalla where bones and remains of humans and horses have been found. The hall gets its name from Emporer Caracalla and the incidence in 215 A.D. when he massacred Alexandrian youths.=====