This photo was kindly contributed to our project by Khaled Yacoup – thank you!

Cairo CityPoem

This is a Turkish carved on the wall of Sabeel Muhammad Ali, built in Cairo around 1820. A ‘Sabeel’ is a building basically used to offer free cold water to passers-by for free. Sabeel is Arabic for ‘the way’, ‘a channel’ or ‘spring’. 

The Sabeel of Muhammad Ali in Cairo.

This monument was built by Muhammad Ali Pasha, who was governor of Egypt between 1805 and 1841. He is regarded as the "founder of modern Egypt". He dedicated the Sabeel to the soul of his sun "Tusun" who died young.

Restoration works of the monumental building took 4 years. Dirt and grease were removed using new solvent containing human saliva as they found it is very effective and harmless to the ancient stones.

The poem states that this Sabeel is a gift by the governor of Egypt to the poor people who shall find rest in it, and inviting the thirsty to satisfy their thirst with the water of this Sabeel. Then the year is mentioned, which is 1236 in the Muslim calendar, around year 1820 A.D.

This information in this article and the two last photos are from the memorial book issued especially for the occasion of finishing restoration works performed by the American resource center in cairo -published in 2005 - Al Shourok publishing company.

Inspiring Cities Museum of CityPoems

Inspiring Cities has collected many citypoems over the years, as well as organized salons with citypoets and cities doing special projects. We have two criteria for what a citypoem is: the intention must be poetic, and it must be in the public realm of cities. Shapes, form and locations can and do differ.

The Museum of CityPoems has citypoems from cities all over the world. From Alhambra to Zonnebeke, from Taipei to Lima.

Got one yourself? Mail us your pictures (free of rights) and description, and we will publish.