Cairo is not one city. It's a stack of cities, each built on top of — or next to — the last. Eight layers, eight facts.
1. Heliopolis (c. 2500 BCE)
One of the oldest cities in Egypt. Home of the sun-god Ra. The obelisk still standing in Matariya today is the oldest in situ obelisk in the world.
2. Memphis (c. 2500 BCE)
South of modern Cairo. Capital of the Old Kingdom. Birthplace of the Pyramids at Saqqara and Giza.
3. Babylon-in-Egypt (Roman era)
A Roman fortress built where Coptic Cairo stands today. The Hanging Church, still in use, sits inside one of its gates.
4. Fustat (641 CE)
The first Muslim capital of Egypt, founded by Amr ibn al-As. Home of the Mosque of Amr — still standing, still in use.
5. Al-Qata'i (868 CE)
The Tulunid capital. Its grand mosque, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, is the oldest mosque in Cairo in its original form.
6. Al-Qahira (969 CE)
Founded by the Fatimids. The name "Cairo" comes from this — al-Qahira means "the Victorious". Al-Azhar University, founded here, is the oldest university of the Arab world.
7. Khedivial Cairo (19th century)
Khedive Ismail redesigned central Cairo on Paris lines for the 1869 Suez Canal opening. Downtown's wide boulevards come from here.
8. The New Administrative Capital (2015-2025)
50 km east of Cairo, a new city is being built for 6.5 million people. Its central park is meant to be twice the size of Central Park in New York.