Bab Zuwayla is one of the eight gates of Fatimid Cairo. It is located on the south wall. There are only three gates remain of Fatimid Cairo wall, Bab Zuwayla, Bab al Futuh, and Bab al-Nasr. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in El Moez Street, due to its association with important historical events.
The history of Bab Zuwayla:
This door was built by Jawhar al-Siqilli, the minister of Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah, during his foundation of Fatimid Cairo city in (358 AH/969 AD). It was renewed by Minister Badr Al-Jamali, the minister of the Fatimid Caliph al‑Mustansir Billah, in 480 AH/1092 AD.
Bab Zuwayla was associated with great historical events, as it witnessed the end of the Mamluk rule in Egypt, as in 922 AH/1517 AD, Selim I, the Ottoman Sultan, hanged Tuman Bay, the last Mamluk Sultan.
Bab Zuweila took its name from a Zuwayla barbarian tribe that came to Egypt with Jawhar al-Siqilli and lived in Egypt.
It is also known as Bawabat al‑Mitwalli, an Arabic word that means the person in charge of, as the mitwalli al‑hesba or the official who in charge of finances and tax collection was based in front of Bab Zuwayla.
The design of Bab Zuwayla:
Bab Zuwayla consists of two circular towers. Each tower contains rooms for the guard soldiers. Between the two towers, there is an entrance and a door made of tin and plated with silver.
Two twin minarets were added to these towers in 818 AH / 1415 AD when the Mamluk Sultan Al Mu’ayyad Shaykh built his mosque next to Bab Zuwayla. The minarets were added to the towers to appear higher and to reduce construction costs.
Al-Mu’ayyad Shaykh built his mosque in this place because this place was a prison and Al-Mu’ayyad Shaykh was accused in a murder case falsifies. So he asked God if his innocence appeared and he became a ruler of Egypt, he will build a mosque instead of this prison.
you can visit Bab Zuwayla with Walking Tour in Cairo Streets
