Shatby and Mostapha Kamel: Two 3rd century BCE Cemeteries, Two Phases of Funerary Art in Alexandria

Much of Alexandria’s ancient architecture, both civil and funerary, has not survived the passage of time. A significant portion of its funerary architecture was lost even after being discovered and documented by explorers during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, only a small fraction of these structures remains. Nonetheless, these surviving remnants, together with explorers’ reports and drawings of now-lost tombs, offer a valuable glimpse into the features of Alexandria’s funerary architecture. Researchers, however, have yet to reach a consensus regarding the precise dates of many discovered tombs, whether still extant or lost. There is general agreement, though, that the remains of the Shatby cemetery represent Alexandria’s earliest burial grounds, followed by several tombs in the Mustafa Kamel cemetery. This paper examines how the Shatby and Mustafa Kamel cemeteries served as models for later Alexandrian cemeteries, influencing their architectural character and decoration. Additionally, it highlights the unique elements introduced by Alexandrian architects in the construction and ornamentation of tombs for the upper class in early Alexandrian society. These features, as explored here, reflect innovations that can be identified as distinctly Alexandrian.