Qaitbay Citadel
(Rosetta Fort/Fort Julian)
The oldest fortress surrounding the city of Rosetta is Qaitbay Citadel (also known as Rosetta Fort or Fort Julian by foreign historians).
The Founder
It was built by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Abu Al-Nasr Qaitbay to protect Egypt's northern borders.
The Construction Date
Built in 1479 AD (886 AH).
The Location
It is located on the west bank of the Nile River (Rosetta branch), about 6 km north of the city.
The Military Purpose
To protect the port of Rosetta and repel Crusader raids and Ottoman ambitions.
The Architectural and Engineering Plan of the Citadel
The General Shape
The citadel takes the form of a rectangular wall surrounded by an outer moat that was filled with water for protection.
The Defensive Towers
The outer wall is reinforced by four circular corner towers containing loopholes for easy firing of arrows and cannons.
The Main Tower
A massive square tower stands at the center of the castle's inner courtyard, serving as the heart of the defensive fortress and command post.
The Internal Facilities
The castle's interior includes rooms for the garrison's command, soldiers' quarters, armories and ammunition stores, as well as a small mosque and freshwater cisterns.
The Building Materials
Its construction is distinguished by a combination of durable limestone and the region's famous black and red "Rashidiya" bricks, reinforced by stone columns taken from ancient archaeological sites. Its design differs from that of the Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria.
The Historical Significance
(Discovery of the Rosetta Stone)
The citadel is the site of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history. In 1799, the French commander Bouchard discovered the famous Rosetta Stone within one of its walls during restoration work during the French campaign. This stone was the key to deciphering ancient hieroglyphs.
The Rosetta Stone
On July 15, 1799, Bouchard, an officer in the French campaign, discovered the famous Rosetta Stone beneath the ruins of this fortress. This discovery led to the decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, unlocking the secrets of Egyptian history and further enhancing the city's fame.
The Details and Texts of the Stone
The Rosetta Stone is a monument made of black granodiorite, dating back to 196 BC during the reign of Ptolemy V. It bears the inscription of the priests' pledge of allegiance to Ptolemy V, acknowledging him as the ruler of the land. The stone is inscribed in three languages:
The Hieroglyphs
The Domotic
And Ancient Greek
The French scholar Champollion dedicated a considerable amount of time to studying these inscriptions on the stone until he deciphered the ancient Egyptian language. The stone contains a single inscription written in three different scripts. This repetition was the key to its decipherment, as hieroglyphs were the official script used by the clergy and priests, while demotic was the popular script used in everyday transactions. In ancient Egypt, the ancient Greek script was the language of administration and the Ptolemaic rulers at that time.
Where is the Rosetta Stone now?
The stone is currently on display at the British Museum in London, where it has resided since 1802. It was taken by British forces after the defeat of the French in Egypt, according to the terms of the 1801 Anglo-French Treaty. It is now considered one of the most important artifacts on display at the British Museum, and Egyptian efforts are underway to have it returned.
