All You Need to Know about Cairo Citadel Aqueduct Tower

Magra El Oyoun Aqueduct (Citadel Aqueduct ) is a medieval aqueduct system located in Old Cairo and on Salah Salem Road. It was officially registered among the Islamic antiquities in 1951.

It extends from the mouth of the Gulf to Bab Al-Qarafa in Sayyida Aisha Square, and its extension is approximately three kilometers with 292 openings, starting from the intake tower, which represents the first part of the watering and consists of a hexagonal tower made of stone, on the surface of which there are 6 waterwheels that ascend to it through a slope from the eastern side of the tower.

In the center of the outlet tower is the top of a large hexagonal basin of red brick to prevent water from leaking into it by means of the six waterwheels that were installed on the roof of the tower as the water is raised to it to pour into small stone basins connected to the large central basin through small channels, which are pointed arches dating back to the era of Sultan al-Ghuri It is carried on stone supports. These arches remained in use until 1872.

History:

Its construction dates back to Al-Nasir Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi, as the aim of its construction was to provide the Citadel of Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi with water, then Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun completely renovated it in the year 1312, and Sultan Al-Ghuri established for it during his reign a water outlet with six drivers near Al-Sayyida Mosque Aisha.

Nothing remains of the ancient arches that Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi built except for a few remains at the beginning of the stream from the side of the castle facing the mosque of Sayyidah Aisha.

It was completely rebuilt by Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun in two phases, during which he established four canals on the Nile at the mouth of the Gulf to raise water from a small bay at the observation wall, which is known today as Stable Antar, towards the Athar Al-Nabi Mosque.

The architecture of these barrages consists of a huge wall that extends from the mouth of the Gulf to the square of Sayyida Aisha, after it was in the past until the castle. Inside the castle.

In the era of Sultan al-Ghuri, another water outlet with six drivers was established for these barrages near Sayyida Nafisa to strengthen the stream of water reaching the castle's wells, and the aim of its establishment was to supply Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi's castle with water.

During the Ottoman era, the watering of the 'Fom El Khalig' witnessed a number of reforms in it. The French campaign used some of its parts as a war fortress for observation and made large openings for its cannons. Muhammad Ali Pasha constructed a branch for it to reach the dome of Imam Shafi’i and the burial of the royal family.

Restoration project:

The works included restoring and maintaining the wooden streams erected on top of the building, removing encroachments on the wall and the ancient sanctuary, treating and cleaning stones, removing layers of soot and dirt, maintaining woodwork and floors in the internal corridors, rehabilitating stairs and covering openings, in addition to raising the efficiency of the area surrounding the monument.

This structure stretches from the 'Fom El Khalig' to Bab Al-Qarafa in Sayyida Aisha Square, extending approximately three kilometers with 292 openings. The watering system begins with the intake tower, a hexagonal stone tower with six waterwheels on its surface. These waterwheels draw water up through a slope on the tower's eastern side.

At the outlet tower's center is a large hexagonal basin made of red brick to prevent water leakage. Six waterwheels on the tower's roof lift the water into small stone basins connected to the central basin through small channels. These channels are pointed arches dating back to the era of Sultan al-Ghuri, carried on stone supports. These arches remained in use until 1872.

The structure's construction dates back to Al-Nasir Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi, aiming to provide the Citadel of Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi with water. Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad bin Qalawun completely renovated it in 1312, establishing four canals on the Nile to raise water from a small bay at the observation wall towards the Athar Al-Nabi Mosque.

During the Ottoman era, the watering of 'Fom El Khalig' witnessed reforms. The works included restoring and maintaining the wooden streams erected on top of the building, removing encroachments on the wall and the ancient sanctuary, treating and cleaning stones, and rehabilitating stairs and covering openings.

The restoration project raised the area's efficiency surrounding the monument.The structure that runs from the Gulf's mouth to Bab Al-Qarafa in Sayyida Aisha Square spans approximately three kilometers and features 292 openings. The watering system begins with the intake tower, a hexagonal stone structure that includes six waterwheels on its surface.