Sharqia: Heritage and Historical Prominence
12 June 2025
- 13 June 2025
Alexandria, Egypt
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Delegates Hall
The Antiquities Museum, affiliated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Cultural Outreach Sector, in cooperation with the Sharqia Regional Authority for Tourism Promotion, organizes the 8th Annual Cultural Forum “Our Archaeological Heritage: A Vision to the Future”, entitled “Sharqia: Heritage and Historical Prominence”, on Thursday and Friday, 12–13 June 2025.
The first day of the forum, Thursday, 12 June 2025, will feature a seminar starting at 10:30 am, held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Delegates Hall. The seminar will focus on two main themes:
- First Theme: An overview of some of the most important cities in Sharqia Governorate, their religious and historical significance, and the archaeological sites they include.
- Second Theme: A look into the most distinguished traditional crafts for which the governorate is renowned.
Sharqia Governorate holds a significant historical status and is rich in diverse cultural heritage. The governorate includes around 115 archaeological sites ranging from Ancient Egyptian to Coptic and Islamic. Its strategic geographic location has historically granted it a unique prominence, having even served as the capital of Egypt during the 21st Dynasty of Ancient Egypt following the establishment of one of its major cities, San El-Hagar (known as Tanis in Greek, and Djanet in Ancient Egyptian). The city is particularly notable for the Temple of the god Khonsu, dating back to the reign of Nectanebo II, the last king of the 30th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. It is rich in ancient Egyptian antiquities, in addition to Greco-Roman remains, as it was the main route used for military campaigns against the Hittites in Asia Minor and served as a defense line against external invasions. The city, which is likened to Luxor, boasts royal temples, obelisks, wells, and palaces. Another notable city in Sharqia is Tell Basta (Bubastis), which was among the most prominent capitals of Ancient Egypt and the main center for the worship of the goddess Bastet.
Sharqia also has the distinction of being a crossing point for three major historical religious routes: The route of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and his people during the Exodus, passing through Qantir to Salhia in the Faqous district, and then to Qantara; the route of the Holy Family, as the governorate was blessed with their visit and stay in both Tell Basta and Belbeis, and a sacred well in Tell Basta remains as a lasting relic of this visit; in addition to the route taken by the family of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to Egypt following the martyrdom of Al-Hussein ibn Ali (may God be pleased with them). The Prophet’s granddaughter Zainab (may God be pleased with her) departed from Medina and chose Egypt as her new home, first arriving in the village of Al-Abbasa in Abu Hammad, and from there settled in Fustat.
On the sidelines of the Forum, a photo exhibition will be inaugurated in conjunction with the first day's events, showcasing the main themes of the seminar. The exhibition is organized in cooperation with photographers from Alexandria’s Camera Club.
Sharqia is uniquely known for preserving one of the most significant traditional crafts: papyrus making, which dates back to the third millennium BCE. This craft is still practiced in Qaramous village in Abu Kabir, where many homes have turned into workshops for papyrus production.
As part of the Forum's activities, a field visit will take place on Friday, 13 June 2025, to one of the governorate's key heritage cities, Qaramous village, including a hands-on papyrus-making workshop.