Editor’s note: This article features a submitted map. We congratulate the cartographer whose map was selected and invite you to submit your own maps for consideration.
Cairo, Egypt’s capital, is often referred to as the City of a Thousand Minarets. Founded in the 10th century, Cairo is home to hundreds of religious buildings of a distinctive architecture, from which the city takes its nickname.
The city has played a pivotal role in the history of Egypt, Africa, and the broader region. This map from Mai Ghaly Elgazzar celebrates Cairo’s rich history and architecture.
The map’s circular vignette focuses on the oldest part of Cairo, with modern data from OpenStreetMap to orient viewers. Zooming in reveals neighborhoods, notable religious sites, and other points of interest. These include historic and modern places, such as the Cairo Opera House and the Egyptian Museum.
Famous landmarks and people from Cairo’s history line the map’s frame. From Amr ibn Al-A’as Mosque, built in 642, to Egyptian writer and intellectual Taha Hussein, the map chronicles more than a century of Cairo’s history. These illustrations and other design embellishments evoke a vintage, hand-drawn feel.
Maps can help us better understand history by placing the past in the context of the present. By fusing the two, this map tells the story of Cairo’s impressive and significant history.
More to Explore
- Explore a high-resolution version of this map.
- See more of Mai’s maps and work.
