via cairo360
With Egypt being one of the most ancient countries around, it’s no wonder it holds many stories that can be found in everything from its streets and monuments to the names of the districts.
Speaking of that last thing, we know we’ve all been curious about why some Cairene districts have the names that they do. But we decided we won’t be left in the dark anymore, and neither will you! So read on, and you’ll find out how these districts were named.
El Abasseya
El Abbasseya’s story begins with Abbas Helmy, who took the throne of the Egyptian Kingdom after his uncle Ibrahim Pasha died. Originally, the district was called El Haswa due to the many rocks and pebbles that littered the ground. After much-needed restoration and construction work, though, the neighbourhood came to life and was swiftly named after Abbas Helmy.
via asu
Qasr El Nile
Everyone in Egypt knows that Qasr El Nile is the district that has magnificent lions on both ends of the Qasr El Nile Corniche. But did you know that this district used to contain a sizable palace as well? That’s right—back in the days of the monarchy, Mohamed Ali Pasha built a palace overlooking the Nile for his daughter Nazli, from which the district took its name.
Sadly, the palace was later destroyed by Nazli’s brother Ibrahim Pasha.
via pinterest
El Darb El Ahmar
No one’s a stranger to the Mohamed Ali-orchestrated Mamluke Massacre that took place in the Saladin Citadel, right? Well, apparently, the streets weren’t either. After the massacre, blood flowed into the nearby streets, and the citizens couldn’t clean it off for a long time.
And guess what the citizens of these blood-red streets renamed the district? That’s right; El Darb El Ahmar, which means ‘the red path’. Tragic, isn’t it?
via wikipedia
Zamalek
A district that has been forever known as the spot for affluent people, Zamalek received its name in a very unusual way. Back in the day, the area was full of wooden huts that were used to store the belongings of fishermen and served as their break areas as well. Because the Turkish word for ‘wooden hut’ was similar to Zamalek, this is what the district came to be called.
via ttravellog
El Merghany
Ever wondered why El Merghany has the name it does? Well, because it was named after a Sudanese religious leader named Ali El Merghany. He was staying in Egypt while he attended El Azhar University.
