The Legend of Tahrir Square Lonelyegypt.com

Tahrir square (Liberation Square) was originally called Ismailia Square, after the 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismail commissioned the new downtown district’s ‘Paris on the Nile’ design. After the Egyptian Revolution of 1919, the square became widely known as Tahrir Square, but was not officially renamed until the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, which changed Egypt from a constitutional monarchy into a republic. Tahrir Square was the talk of the world during the recent events, where the Egyptian people rose against the former president’s regime. The 18-day revolt centered in the square – led by the young people and later joined by Egyptians of all ages, genders and classes - succeeded in removing the regime on 11 February 2011. Save for one violent day, the Egyptian revolution was called the white revolution, an unprecedented event that has not happened anywhere in the world.

Omar Makram Mosque

Omar Makram was a national leader and revolutionist against the French conquest led by Napoleon Bonaparte. The mosque of Omar Makram located at Tahrir Square still keeps his name alive.

It was designed and built in 1948 by the very talented Italian architect Mario Rossi (1879-1961) so as to replace the old ruins of what was then known as the Mosque of Sheikh El-Abeet.

During his career as the Chief Architect of the Awqaf (religious endowments), and later as its consultant architect, Rossi, who converted to Islam in the 1940s, has designed 260 mosques, none of which resemble each other.

Shepheard Hotel

In 1841, Samuel Shepheard joined Mr. Hill in running a modest establishment known as the “British Hotels.” In 1845, Shepheard took sole possession and his name appeared over the entrance.

In 1850, he acquired a larger area and for a century his hotel became one of the best centers of world tourism.

The Egyptian Antiquities Museum

The museum was built in 1902 by Auguste Mariette, who was appointed Director of Antiquities in Egypt in 1858. So began what was to become one of the world’s famous museum and until today, excavations have continued to bring to light new objects of great beauty and historical importance. The Louvre, the British Museum, Leiden, Turin, Berlin, the Boston Museum and

the Metropolitan in New York all have beautiful things, but none can compare with those in Cairo.

Mariette died in Cairo and was interred in a sarcophagus that is on display in the garden of the museum.

Talaat Harb Square

Talaat Harb was a renowned nationalist industrialist. He established the first real Egyptian bank in 1920 that is owned by Egyptian shareholders and staffed by Egyptian nationals, where Arabic was used in all communications, a major step in establishing a national economic identity.

In recognition of the importance of spreading banking awareness within and outside Egypt, the bank sought to spread its branches all over the country and in several other Arab countries.

After the declaration of the Republic in Egypt, Talaat Harb was honored by naming several streets and squares after him. His statue adorns Talaat Harb square in downtown Cairo.