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Egypt Through Time: Photographs From 1800-2015

September 27, 2013
The Pyramids in 1880.

Since the 2011 revolution, old photographs of Egypt and classic films showing an elegant and prosperous Egyptian society have sporadically appeared on social networks. Essentially, many are searching to learn and be inspired by the past in order to build a brighter future.  Below, is a collection of photographs of Egypt (mainly from Cairo and Alexandria) taken between the 1800s and present day.

1800s

The Citadel in Cairo in 1870
The Citadel in Cairo in 1870
'Old' Cairo in the 1870s with the Citadel in the background
‘Old’ Cairo in the 1870s with the Citadel in the background
Alexandria in 1875
Alexandria in 1875
Near the Pyramids in 1875.
Near the Pyramids in 1875.
Lower Egypt, 1885
Lower Egypt, 1885
Abdeen Square in 1892
Abdeen Square in 1892
Qasr Al-Nil Bridge near Tahrir Square 1880-1890s
Qasr Al-Nil Bridge near Tahrir Square 1880-1890s

1900-1939

frenchdistrict1900s
Cairo’s French District in 1900-1910
Tahrir in the 1900s
Tahrir Square in 1900s
The National Bank of Cairo in 1910
The National Bank of Cairo in 1910
Cairenes in 1920s
King Farouk and his sisters in the 1930s
The view from Mokattam (Cairo) in 1920
The view from Mokattam (Cairo) in 1920
Hotel Cecil in Alexandria in 1920. This was a luxury hotel, highly renowned at the time.
Hotel Cecil in Alexandria in 1920. This was a luxury hotel, highly renowned at the time.
Karnak Temple Entrance 1920 (Luxor)
Karnak Temple Entrance 1920 (Luxor)
Cairo Railway Station 1920s
Cairo Railway Station 1920s
A street in Cairo, 1929
A street in Cairo, 1929
Fouad Street, Cairo in 1935
Fouad Street, Cairo in 1935
Alexandria's Korniche in 1935
Alexandria’s Korniche in 1935
A street peddler in 1935
A street peddler in 1935

1940-1999

A Cairo Street in 1941
A Cairo Street in 1941
Pedestrians in Cairo, 1941
Pedestrians in Cairo, 1941
A military plane flies over the Pyramids in 1942
A military plane flies over the Pyramids in 1942
Rolls Royce cars at the Royal Abdeen Palace in 1940s
Rolls Royce cars at the Royal Abdeen Palace in 1940s
A Cairo street in 1954
A Cairo street in 1954
Alexandria's Stanley Beach in the 1950s
Alexandria’s Stanley Beach in the 1950s
Beach-goers in the 1950s
Beach-goers in the 1950s
Tahrir Square in 1960
Tahrir Square in 1960
Alexandria's Korniche in 1960
Alexandria’s Korniche in 1960
Louis Armstrong and his wife at the Pyramids in 1961
Louis Armstrong and his wife at the Pyramids in 1961
Ramsees Square in the 1960s
Ramsees Square in the 1960s
A female traffic officer (normally after-school volunteers) in the 1960s
A female traffic officer (normally after-school volunteers) in the 1960s
The re-assembling of Abu Simbel in 1968
The re-assembling of Abu Simbel in 1968
Former Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat and Former US President Richard Nixon at the Pyramids in 1974
Former Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat and Former US President Richard Nixon at the Pyramids in 1974
Tahrir Square, 1975
Tahrir Square, 1975

Present Day

The Nile River, 2000s
The Nile River
Restaurants on the Nile River
Restaurants on the Nile River
A sunset in Cairo, 2013
A sunset in Cairo
Near Khan El-Khalili
Near Khan El-Khalili
The Pyramids and the Sphinx
The Pyramids and the Sphinx
Concrete jungle (Cairo)?
Concrete jungle (Cairo)?
An ottoman period mosque located across the 14th-century madrasa in Khan El-Khalili
An ottoman period mosque located across the 14th-century madrasa in Khan El-Khalili
Shali in Siwa Oasis
Shali in Siwa Oasis
A Muslim holding the Koran (top L) and a Coptic Christian holding a cross in Cairo's Tahrir Square during the period of interfaith unity on February 6, 2011. Credit: Dylan Martinez
A Muslim holding the Koran (top L) and a Coptic Christian holding a cross in Cairo’s Tahrir Square during the period of interfaith unity on February 6, 2011. Credit: Dylan Martinez
Tahrir Square on January 25, 2011
Tahrir Square on January 25, 2011. Credit: Khalil Hamra/AP
Tahrir Square on July 3, 2013
Tahrir Square on July 3, 2013. Credit: Ian Lee
Credit: Mohamad Saiid.
Credit: Mohamad Saiid.
Egyptians celebrate Eid Al-Adha in the street after early morning prayers, September 24, 2015. PHOTO: Ahmed Hamed, Aswat Masriya.
Egyptians celebrate Eid Al-Adha in the street after early morning prayers, September 24, 2015. PHOTO: Ahmed Hamed, Aswat Masriya.
Credit: Mohamed Khairat
Credit: Mohamed Khairat
Khan El-Khalili Credit: Photito Travel
Khan El-Khalili Credit: Photito Travel
Talaat Harb Square in Downtown Cairo. Credit: Enas El Masry
Talaat Harb Square in Downtown Cairo. Credit: Enas El Masry
Mohamed Aly Street. Credit: Enas El Masry
Mohamed Aly Street. Credit: Enas El Masry
Kids playing with rainwater inside a mosque in Cairo. Credit: Enas El Masry
Kids playing with rainwater inside a mosque in Cairo. Credit: Enas El Masry
Tahrir Square in 2015. Credit: Hisham Moll
Tahrir Square in 2015. Credit: Hisham Moll

[Photographs sourced from various locations – many without credits. Some sources include Egypt Zaman, The Denver Post, LIFE, and The New York Public Library]

Comments (774)

  1. Ross B says:
    11 years ago

    Thanks for showing the past – and sharing the present.

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