The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

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Walk through Cairo and you’ll notice more than the honking cars and bustling cafés. Scattered across the city are statues and monuments that hold secrets, legends, and sometimes downright peculiar stories. Here’s a tour of some of the most iconic statues, with the history and the gossip behind them.

The Lions of Qasr El Nil Bridge

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Built in 1933 to connect downtown Cairo with Zamalek, the Qasr El Nil Bridge is famously guarded by four bronze lions. Sculpted in Florence and shipped to Cairo, these lions were meant to project strength and grandeur. Over the years, however, they’ve become more than guardians: some people rub their paws for luck during exams, and newlyweds often take photos with them as a symbol of protection. In recent times, they’ve even been turned into internet icons as the “silent watchers” of Cairo’s chaos.

Ramses II – The Traveller King

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Few statues have been moved around Cairo as much as those of Ramses II. Built initially in Ramses Square in the 1950s, the massive 83-ton monument became both a landmark and a symbol of Cairo’s notorious traffic jams. However, pollution and the relentless blare of car horns took their toll, so in 2006, it was relocated to Giza, near the Grand Egyptian Museum. In a way, Ramses has done more commuting than most Cairo residents, earning the nickname “the wandering pharaoh”.

Ibrahim Pasha on Horseback

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Seen proudly on horseback in Opera Square, Ibrahim Pasha, son of Muhammad Ali, was immortalised in bronze by French sculptor Charles Cordier in 1872. The statue was imported from Paris and commemorates Ibrahim’s role as a formidable military commander. Ironically, while his horse looks ready to charge, the square around him later became known for arts and leisure, as home to Cairo’s original Khedivial Opera House. A warrior in a theatre district, an amusing contradiction.

Saad Zaghloul – The Orator in Bronze

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Mahmoud Mokhtar, Egypt’s most celebrated sculptor, immortalised the nationalist leader Saad Zaghloul in the 1920s. With his arm stretched out, the statue outside the Cairo Opera House looks as though he is addressing a crowd mid-speech. Today, it is pigeons and selfie-snapping students that gather at his feet. Locals like to joke that Zaghloul’s bronze hand has waved at more people than any living politician.

Lazoghly Pasha – The Statue with a Stand-In

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This is where Cairo’s statues become particularly curious. When artists needed to sculpt a monument for Lazoghly Pasha, a powerful Ottoman statesman, they faced a significant challenge: there were no existing photographs of him. The solution? They used a water-carrier who looked vaguely similar as a model. The result is a statue in Lazoghly Square at Magles El-Ommah, Dawawin, that is both a politician and, in a way, an everyday Cairene immortalised in bronze.

Mustafa Kamel – “If I Were Not Egyptian…”

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In downtown Cairo, Mustafa Kamel Square features a statue of the fiery young nationalist who died at just 34. He is remembered for his famous declaration: “If I were not Egyptian, I would wish to be Egyptian”. Locals say his statue radiates youthful energy, almost as if the bronze itself carries his passion. The square became a gathering point for protests, showing that his spirit of resistance still lingers.

The Unknown Soldier Memorial

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Commissioned by President Sadat after the October 1973 War, this pyramid-shaped memorial by artist Sami Rafi stands as a tribute to Egypt’s martyrs. The site carries a poignant twist: after Sadat’s assassination in 1981, he was buried at the very place he established. The geometric design symbolises eternal protection, but for many Egyptians, it is also a reminder of both triumph and tragedy.

The Renaissance of Egypt Statue

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Perhaps the most ambitious statue of modern Egypt, sculpted by Mahmoud Mokhtar in 1928, the Renaissance of Egypt Statue depicts a mighty sphinx rising alongside a peasant woman as she unveils her face. The symbolism was bold: a call for Egypt’s rebirth after years of colonial rule. Positioned in front of Giza Zoo, the statue shocked conservatives when it was first revealed; an unveiled woman was considered daring for her time. Today, it remains a striking emblem of modern Egyptian identity, blending pharaonic might with national awakening.

Beyond being silent stone and bronze, Cairo’s statues are storytellers. They whisper tales of independence, rebellion, quirky artistic choices, and even the occasional urban legend. They’re part of the city’s personality: dramatic, chaotic, and always with a touch of humour. Next time you’re stuck in traffic by Qasr El Nil Bridge or walking past the Opera Square, look up, you might just see history winking back at you.