Shatby Necropolis: Alexandria’s Oldest Silent Storyteller

Tucked behind the buzz of modern Alexandria lies a quiet witness to the city’s earliest days — the Shatby Necropolis. As Alexandria’s oldest known burial site, this Hellenistic-era necropolis dates back to the late 4th century BCE, just decades after Alexander the Great founded the city. Far from being just a collection of tombs, it’s a stone-etched chronicle of the people who first called this great Mediterranean port home.

This once-forgotten site is now reclaiming its place on Alexandria’s cultural map, thanks to recent restorations that opened it up to visitors and history lovers eager to step back into the city’s ancient foundations.

A Window into Ancient Alexandrian Life and Death

The Shatby Necropolis was the final resting place for early Macedonian and Greek settlers, including military leaders and influential figures of the newly founded city. Unlike the grand pharaonic tombs of Upper Egypt, Shatby’s rock-cut chambers reflect the influence of Greek funerary architecture, offering a distinct blend of cultures.

Visitors can spot rectangular burial niches known as loculi, and stone beds (klinai) that resemble ancient Greek dining couches — a nod to the belief in celebrating life even in death. These design features combine Ionic and Doric elements, capturing the hybrid soul of Hellenistic Alexandria.

From Neglect to Restoration: A New Life for the Necropolis

Over the years, time and weather had taken a toll on the necropolis. But in 2023, a major restoration breathed new life into the site. Preservation teams installed a modern drainage system, carefully restored burial chambers, and introduced interactive displays to help visitors understand the significance of what they’re seeing.

One of the most exciting additions? An open-air theatre, where performances and educational events now help bridge the gap between the ancient and the modern — right on the grounds of history itself.

Visiting Shatby Necropolis: What You Need to Know

• Location: Centrally located near the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, perfect for pairing with a visit to the iconic modern library

• Opening Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

• Admission Fee: Just $1.17 USD for foreign adults — making it one of Alexandria’s most affordable historical experiences

• Tips: Wear comfortable shoes, bring a guidebook or opt for a local guide to get the most out of the stories hidden in the stone

Why It’s Worth Your Time

While it may not yet be on every tourist’s radar, Shatby Necropolis offers something rare: an intimate, authentic look at Alexandria’s earliest cultural fabric. It’s a place where East met West, where tradition evolved, and where stories of life, death, and legacy were literally carved into stone.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an archaeology lover, or a curious traveler eager to go beyond the usual stops, this site offers a deeply human and hauntingly beautiful experience — one that reminds us that even in silence, the past still speaks.