Catacombs of Shouqafa

shelf-tombs in the catacombs
shelf-tombs in the catacombs

The odd mixture of decorations in the tombs is both Egyptian and Roman — egyptian symbology and scenes, roman-style clothing and faces. It’s kind of weird. There is a really odd bas relief of Anubis wearing roman clothes.

The entrance to the catacombs is through a huge circular stairway that goes down for three stories. THe body of the dead person would be lowered down through the center of the shaft, while mourners and priests would circle down to the tomb shafts. Some niches bear the names of the deceased in red paint on the shelves, and there are paintings on plaster of serpents and monsters on doorways

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