The city of the dead, photo essay by Michele Cortina
In a city in Egypt of 18 million people, called Cairo, where is chaos and traffic, there is another city, where the streets are sand, people walk calmly and the loudest noise you hear are the voices of children playing. That’s the so-called “City of the Dead”, an area covering more than 6 kilometers that is home to the largest Islamic cemeteries in Cairo since 600 a.C.
The City of the Dead is a cemetery, but it is not just a cemetery. It’s a part of the city where around graves, Living have built their homes and have become residents and at the same time custodians of the tombs.
In the City of the Dead lives about one million and half people and many residents consider themselves lucky. Living in the City of the Dead often means escape from the overwhelming Cairo, where the high cost of adequate houses and the steady and fast growth of the population is generating uncontrolled neighborhoods and hostile places.
Here inside, the Dead are surrounded by gardens, patios, living rooms and kitchens and the Living have water, electricity and other basic services that sometimes lack in certain areas of the same Cairo.
There are Living who weep for their missing loved ones and remember them by spending the day near the tombs, taking care of the flowers, eating and drinking together with family.
The other Living , who stay and live around the tombs, do their normal daily activities and just live, in the City of the Dead.
Here it’s Life and Death, together.
(by michele cortina)
I very like this work. It’s always interesting take a deep look into a community where it could be very hard to get in touch with.
The photos are soft and respectful. Thanks.
Thank you Gab for your comment, I really appreciate your words.
You caught exactly the essential of this work, a respectful and peaceful view of a place and its community.
It has not been easy to take these photos and it has taken quite a long time, but it was worth it.
With a friendly approach, without any kind of prejudice or different purposes.
Thanks!
Michele Cortina
http://www.michelecortina.com
I agree with comments above, very good and uncommon photos from a place few people knows, but exists.
And it must be seen, to know and understand more.
Because, at the end of the day, everybody just wants to live, in peace.
Very good job Michele.
very good
I think this a beautiful album and photos very interesting, offering a different view of a place which is outside normal tourist’s visit.
Photos are light and gentle, without prejudice or criticism.
In this place people simply live and this place is very uncommon and special, because you find Death and Life together.
This is almost a metaphysic concept and some philosophy like. Very good!
Thank you Mohamed for your comment, much appreciated.
This place really touched my heart. The people I have met here I will be always remember.
Having a friendly and open approach to make documentary photography I believe is the only way to do it.
Thanks!