Babylon Fortress

Babylon
ⲡⲁⲃⲓⲗⲱⲛ
Remains of one of the two towers guarding the Roman canal
Babylon Fortress is located in Egypt
Babylon Fortress
Shown within Egypt
Alternative nameⲡⲁⲃⲓⲗⲱⲛ
LocationCairo Governorate, Egypt
RegionLower Egypt
Coordinates30°0′22″N 31°13′47″E / 30.00611°N 31.22972°E / 30.00611; 31.22972

30°0′22″N 31°13′47″E / 30.00611°N 31.22972°E / 30.00611; 31.22972

Babylon Fortress (Arabic: حصن بابليون; Coptic: ⲡⲁⲃⲓⲗⲱⲛ or Ⲃⲁⲃⲩⲗⲱⲛ)[1][better source needed] is an Ancient Roman fortress on the eastern bank of the Nile Delta, located in the area known today as Old Cairo or Coptic Cairo. The fortress was built circa 300 AD by Emperor Diocletian in order to protect the entrance to an ancient canal, previously rebuilt by Trajan, that linked the Nile with the Red Sea.

It was at the boundary between Lower and Middle Egypt, where the river craft paid tolls when ascending or descending the Nile. Within the fortress's former enclosure are the present-day Coptic Museum, a convent, and several churches, including the Church of St. George and the Hanging Church.

  1. ^ "أسماء بعض البلاد المصرية بالقبطية - كتاب لغتنا القبطية المصرية". St-Takla.org. Retrieved 2024-02-26.