Bab Zuweila

Cairo, Egypt

The last surviving southern gate of Fatimid Cairo, topped by the twin minarets of the Mamluk-era Mosque of al-Mu'ayyad. A layered monument spanning Fatimid and Mamluk periods.

Historical Context

Named after the Berber Zuwayla tribe of the Fatimid army, the gate marked the southern boundary of the Fatimid capital. Under the Mamluks, it became the main ceremonial entrance to the city and a site where the heads of executed criminals were displayed.