10 - 16 May 2001
Issue No.533
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 10 - 16 May 2001 Issue No.533 |
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The city victorious
Le Caire, ouvrage realisé sous la direction de André Raymond et al; Cairo: Citadelles et Mazenod, 2000. pp492
Many books have been written on Cairo, the city that has sometimes baffled but more often awed researchers, historians and urbanists. Books galore have been written on different eras and areas of its development, on its history, its geography, its economy and lately its unprecedented growth. Up till now, most specialists considered Le Caire by Marcel Clerget written in the 1930s as the best and most complete reference work on the topic. But regardless of the shortcomings of this most savant study (the absence of an alphabetical index renders its access somewhat awkward), it is at present of more use to those interested in the city's geography and geology rather than its social and economic history or architecture. Since its publication, more advanced research has brought new light on many questions that Clerget had only scantily touched upon. During the past decade, as more and more scholars attempted to unravel the million threads that lead to understanding Cairo 2000, a pressing need emerged for a collection and an updated review of the knowledge we now possess on this most intricate agglomeration. It is therefore with great excitement that Le Caire, recently published by Citadelles et Mazenod, has been received by the many interested parties as it gathers in one heavy tome the most recent archeological, historical, economic and architectural findings on the city victorious.
The material, in which architecture has pride of place, is divided into five sections: "The Site" deals with the geographic location and the period preceding the beginning of history, Heliopolis, Memphis, and Babylon of Egypt; "The first Arab Centuries" extends from the Arab conquest to the Fatimid era; "Cairo under the Ayyoubids and the Mamelukes" includes Cairo under Salaheddin and Baybars, under Al-Nasir Ibn Qalawoun and Barquq and under the Circassian Mamelukes and Qaytbay; "Cairo under the Ottomans" is divided into chapters on the city's administration, urban society; economic development, public and domestic architecture and finally "The 19th and 20th Century" features an interesting and novel section on architecture in the latter half of the 20th century, i.e., the Nasser era, the population explosion and the building boom of the Infitah and the present attempts at renovating Cairo's ailing infrastructure.
The main problems facing the megalopolis in terms of preservation and restoration are examined thoroughly, while a section is devoted to the creation of satellite cities.
The book offers various maps, a complete chronology of easy access and a detailed index. More importantly maybe, it is illustrated with a very large number of excellent sketches and photos by famous photographers past and present, many never published before.
Professor André Raymond (IREMAM), renowned for his research on Cairo and its artisans, Ghislaine Alleaume (director of the CEDEJ in Cairo); Jean-Pierre Corteggiani (responsible for the scientific and technical relations at the IFAO in Cairo), Sylvie Denoix (CNRS), Jean-Claude Garcin (professor of medieval Islamic civilisation at the University of Aix-en-Provence) and Architect Mercedes Volait (CNRS) have joined forces to produce this work of rare quality.
An essential reference for all those who are genuinely interested in Cairo and its architectural treasures, the book's large size (and high price) may however appear more suitable for schools, universities and institutions. For those undeterred by the above limitations it will provide hours of delight as well as a deeper understanding of this most unique city.
Reviewed by Fayza Hassan
Shubra Palace
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