© Antonio Amendola/S4C
THOSE WHO LIVE AMONG THE DEAD - THE CITY OF THE DEAD, CAIRO
The City of the Dead is the monumental cemetery of Cairo currently inhabited by almost 800,000 people who have occupied the funery chappels were the dead are burried, making them their permanent homes. Although ranking 18th position in the list of the largest slums in the world ( of wich as many as four are in Cairo).
It differs from other tipical slums for the peculair...
more »© Antonio Amendola/S4C
THOSE WHO LIVE AMONG THE DEAD - THE CITY OF THE DEAD, CAIRO
The City of the Dead is the monumental cemetery of Cairo currently inhabited by almost 800,000 people who have occupied the funery chappels were the dead are burried, making them their permanent homes. Although ranking 18th position in the list of the largest slums in the world ( of wich as many as four are in Cairo).
It differs from other tipical slums for the peculair phenomenon of habitat sharing between the living and the dead, along with the historical and architectural value of the area wich make of the slum a unique case in the whole world.
Bidonvilles are totaly absent, dwelling centres are not overcrowded and the cemetery has a tidy and recognizable structure.
The dry climate and the lack of moist in ground have made these places healthy unlike other burring grounds.
On the other hand "living in a tomb" is a case of absurdity and a taboo for the rest of Cairo's city wich considers the cemetery as the extreme and degrade margin of the city.
Many areas have been irrevocably compromised by evictions and demolitions leaving space for more lucrative housing speculations.
The place has been stigmatized by authorities as a dangerous place with a high crimerate and for this reason it is inaccessible for turists and often also for researchers.
Ever since the XIV century tomb-houses have existed and sheltered the most needful.
After the high increase in population and the failure in politics of estate housing an icredible mass of poor people from the city and country illegaly occupied the mortuary chambers and the small rooms originally built to host pillgrims and the masuoleums guards.
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