Aswan Necropolis

Aswan, Egypt

The Fatimid Cemetery in Aswan is one of the most important groups of Islamic tombs in Egypt. It is located on a 500 meter-wide strip of land stretching nearly 2 kilometers along the road. There are more than 1,000 tombs in the necropolis, dated in sources to various periods within the Fatimid reign. The tombs are mostly of mud brick, with some baked brick used in domes and arches, and range from simple rectangular enclosures to elaborate structures with domes, vaults, and mihrabs. The exterior of the tombs was originally covered with lime plaster, though that has now mostly worn off.