THE CATACOMBS OF KOM EL-SHOQAFA
Egypt

Click here for Episode 30

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Back to Alexandria we go to visit the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a little-known but fascinating burial chamber encapsulating the marriage of Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures and traditions.  

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Talking about the marriage of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman, we meet Cleopatra, last pharaoh of Egypt and noted seductress of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.  Or was she? She might be one of the most consequential people in antiquity, and we try to get to the bottom of her story with Margot Collins from the Undressed Historia podcast.

 

What's more, Gary Arndt from everything-everywhere.com drops by to talk about visiting Alexandria, including scuba diving to see the remnants of the Lighthouse!  Alexandria may not have much left from antiquity, but "age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety."  Sorry, obligatory Shakespeare line.

 

In the process, we'll talk about feteer, a sort of buttery, flaky, Alexandrian pizza.  To Egypt!

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Sources:
Brown, Pat.  The Murder of Cleopatra: History's Greatest Cold Case
Goldsworthy, Adrian Keith.  Antony and Cleopatra

Grant, Michael. From Alexander to Cleopatra: the Hellenistic World
Lonely Planet Egypt

Nardo, Don. A Travel Guide to Ancient Alexandria

Pollard, Justin. The Rise and Fall of Alexandria: Birthplace of the Modern Mind

Preston, Diana.  Cleopatra and Antony: Power, Love, and Politics in the Ancient World

Shakespeare, William.  Antony and Cleopatra

Stothard, Peter.  Alexandria: the Last Nights of Cleopatra

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Photo by wikipedia user Asiatologist

 

 

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