“In the Presence of the Maqam”: A Research Project to Document the Memory of the Mariout Lake Region

The French Cultural Institute in Alexandria organized an evening event entitled “In the Presence of the Maqam,” which presented the results of a scientific research project documenting the shrines and maqams in the Lake Mariout area. The project was carried out by the French Center for Alexandrian Studies in collaboration with photographer Samar Bayoumi and with the support of the British Barakat Trust.

The project was based on a cartographic study conducted by Dr. Ismail Awad, tracing the development of the maqamat from the maps of the French campaign in 1801 to satellite images in 2024, with the aim of highlighting a heritage of spiritual and historical value dating back to the 14th century, which is in danger of disappearing, as well as highlighting its influence on the identity of the region and its inhabitants.