The Catacombs of Kom Esh-Shokafa: Roman-Egyptian Underworld

3. The Main Burial Chamber (The “Fusion” Room)

This is the heart of the catacombs and the main event. You’ll descend to the lowest level to a tomb that is set up like a grand Roman temple… but the decorations will make you do a double-take.

This is where the bizarre and beautiful fusion of art is at its best. Your guide will point out:

• The Guards: Flanking the tomb’s entrance are two statues. At first glance, they look Egyptian, but look closer. It’s the god Anubis… but he’s dressed in the full armor of a Roman legionary, complete with a kilt and sandals.
• The Gods in Armor: On the other side, you’ll see the crocodile-god Sobek, also in Roman armor.
• Greek Meets Egypt: Inside, you’ll find a classic, three-person burial setup (like a Roman sarcophagus), but the reliefs above them are pure, mixed-up magic. You’ll see Egyptian pharaohs offering gifts to Egyptian gods, right next to Greek-style Medusa heads (a symbol to ward off evil) and Roman columns.

This room is a perfect snapshot of Alexandria’s “melting pot” culture. They were Romans, living in a Greek-founded city, who still held on to the ancient, powerful magic of the Egyptian afterlife.

4. The “Hall of Caracalla” (A Bonus Mystery)

Nearby, and often included in your ticket, is the “Hall of Caracalla.” This is a separate, more recently discovered mass-burial chamber. It is filled with the bones of dozens of young men and horses who, according to legend, were massacred by the Roman Emperor Caracalla in 215 AD.