Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

What is the Truth about Excluding Zamalek's Aquarium out of Antiquities?


Sun 03 Oct 2021 | 08:51 AM
Ali Abu Dashish

The aquarium at Zamalek District dates back to 1867 AD, when Khepe Ismail asked the director of Paris parks to bring an expert to design an aquarium , in the form of a mound (known also as Jabaliya).

Dr. Osama Talaat, Head of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Sector, revealed that what has been published about the aquarium did not address the truth of the matter correctly.

He added that what was done regarding the aquarium is only a review in the explanatory note that was prepared many years ago, and accordingly all the it was registered, which was usual in Egypt.

He affirmed that the entire areas were registered despite their inconsistency with the nature of antiquities and the antiquities protection law.

Dr. Talaat explained that as soon as the experts reviewed the explanatory memorandum regarding the aquarium’s registration, they found errors, and despite that the aquarium was fully registered.

But during the recent period a committee of specialists was formed, and the memorandum was reviewed until they got out of this issue and according to the law that what is old should be registered according to specific specifications.

The registering is based on the decision of the Permanent Committee that was taken unanimously.

The Jabaliya and the three old kiosks were registered among the Islamic and Coptic monuments.

The aquarium consists of an entrance including two openings resembling the fish gills opening, and behind it is the foyer area.

On the side of the two openings, there are two side fins behind the four corridors.

As for the Jabaliya from the inside, it was taken into account when designing it to be in the form of corridors or cavities within coral reefs located in the sea.

If you look at the ceiling of one of the corridors, you will find it as if it is one among other cavities made by the waves, which are designs that play melodies when the air passes through them, very similar to the movement of water, through the movement of air rushing from the four entrances, moving between the caves.

The aquarium contains rare trees brought from Madagascar, Australia and Thailand, where the rare forests, which are characteristic of these areas, and in the dark places of the corridors are illuminated in a wonderful artistic way.

Translated by Ahmed Moamar