Gates of Cairo

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The Egyptian city of Cairo has, in its history, had a significant number of fortified gates protecting both the inner and outer city. Apart from the purpose of defense, they were also used for differentiation of the varied social and economic classes. Often the gates were heavily decorated as artistic pieces.

Cairo's gates include:

  • Bāb al-Baḩr (the Gate of the Shore), built in 1174 by Bahā’ al-Dīn Qaraqūsh, in the northern wall, near the northwest corner; destroyed during reign of Muḩammad ‘Alī.
  • Bāb al-Barakīyyah (the Gate of Blessedness?) I, built by Jawhar al-Şaqalī; destroyed in 1936.
  • Bāb al-Barakīyyah II, built by Şalāh al-Din in 1184; part of the eastern wall, which was built far to the east with the goal of expanding the city in that direction.
  • Bāb al-Faraj (the Gate of Succour), in the southern Cairo wall at the hall where the tomb of Set Seada is located.
  • Bab El Fetouh
  • Al-Bāb al-Jadīd (the New Gate), built in 1170 in the eastern wall; still remains.
  • Bāb al-Ghūrī (the Gate of the Attacker)
  • Bāb al-Ḩusayniyyah (Ḩusayniyyah Gate, referring to a district)
  • Bāb al-Khalq (the Gate of Creation)
  • Bab El Khoga
  • Bāb al-Naşr (the Gate of Victory)
  • Bāb al-Qanţarah (the Gate of the Bridge)
  • Bāb al-Qilà (the Gate of Alkali)
  • Bāb al-Sharī‘ah (the Gate of Law)
  • Bāb al-Silsilah (the Gate of the Chain)
  • Bāb al-Sirr (the Gate of the Secret)
  • Bāb al-Tawfīq (the Gate of Success)
  • Bāb al-Wazīr (the Minister's Gate), opened in 1341 by the wazīr (minister of state) Najm al-Dīn Muḩammad; still remains.
  • Bāb Khān al-Khalīlī (Khān al-Khalīlī Gate, referring to a district)
  • Bāb Sa‘ādah (Gate of Happiness)
  • Bāb Darb al-Laban (Milk Road Gate)
  • Bab Zuweila

Bāb (باب) is Arabic for "door" or "entrance", from bawwaba (to divide into chapters or sections).