   From top: the first photograph of Cairo taken in 1849; 19th century images of Al-Haram Street and Al-Azbakeya Gardens     From top: the Egyptian stock market in Alexandria, a 19th century image that portrays clear cosmopolitan influence on architecture; the 1948 war that changed the face of the region, and for that matter the political fate of Egypt, with prominent journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, then a military correspondent, covering the battles; countdown to the July Revolution, the Cairo fire in 1951; and the first press conference for the Free Officers, featuring Nasser, after removing King Farouk in 1952, at the newsroom of Akhbar Al-Yom. All historic moments and places in Egyptian history as depicted by the Memory of Modern Egypt reflecting the changing of times     From top: the Nile port of Road Al-Farag, a testimony of a prosperous trade; a Cairo downtown apartment block elegantly showing eclectic architectural style; the Port Said demonstrations in 1956 as the city gets on the frontline of Egyptian-Israeli confrontation; the harbour in Port Said. From the 19th century to the 20th Egypt went through much change      From top: King Fouad inaugurates the first Egyptian parliament in 1924; a year earlier the Egyptian monarch has authorised the first constitution; Chaired by Saad Zaghloul with Mustafa El-Nahhas, Mourcaus Hannah and Makram Ebeid as members, the Egyptian delegation negotiating British evacuation; a rare image of Al-Mensheya square in Alexandria in the second half of the 19th century (then it was still the Mehamt Ali Square); in the early decades of the 20th century anti-riot police attempt to quell demonsrations calling for independence; a rare image of a tranquile Abdine Palace in 1911 before the gradual advent of political upheavel. Documenting rare shots in the history of the nation, the Memory of Modern Egypt and Italian exhibition at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina show the many faces of Egypt    From far left: Nasser marking the tenth anniversary of the 1952 Revolution, promising socio-economic development and political victories; in 1977 Sadat shocks the world as he announces, in parliament, his intention to visit Israel to pursue peace; then vice-president Hosni Mubarak and (late) Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat listening to Sadat          Online now: the Memory of Modern Egypt offers visitors a glimpse through the front pages of dailies throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and some of the posters of Egyptian cinema. From far top: the front-pages and covers of Al-Ahram, Akher Saa, Al-Waqaei Al-Missreya, Al-Shabab, Al-Ahkbar, Al-Nazarat Al-Missreya, Al-Sarkha and Al-Gomhuriya; the poster of Shatei Al-Gharam [A beach for romance] featuring Laila Mourad and Hussein Sedki    From top: Shubra, the prominent middle class Cairo neighbourhood in 1904; the Alexandria lower middle class neighbourhood of Al-Anfoushi, still in the early decades of the 20th century; journalist Hosn Shah reporting on women's issues in the early 1960s. The lives of Egyptians throughout the 19th and 20th centuries went through many changes, for some to the better and for others to the worse    From far left: Egyptian diva Um Kalthoum with prominent singer-composer Farid Al-Atrash, of Syrian origin, with a host of musicians and poets; the icon of Egyptian singing from the 1950s to 1970s Abdel-Halim Hafez with prominent journalist and poet Kamel Al-Shenawi; Quran reciter Mohamed Rifaat parent page (6 - 12 November 2008, issue #921) |