Editing Fortifications of Cairo (section)

=== Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr (northern gates) ===
{{Main|Bab al-Futuh|Bab al-Nasr (Cairo)}}

[[File:Bab_al-Nasr_DSCF9983_(retouched).jpg|thumb|[[Bab al-Nasr (Cairo)|Bab al-Nasr]], one of the northern city gates in the Fatimid walls, dated to 1087]]
Bab al-Nasr and Bab al-Futuh are both are on the northern section of the wall, about two hundred yards from each other.<ref name=":322" /> Bab al-Nasr, which translates to "the Gate of Victory," was originally called Bab al-Izz, meaning "the Gate of Glory," when constructed by Gawhar al-Siqilli. It was reconstructed by Badr al-Gamali between 1087 and 1092 about two hundred meters from the original site and was given its new name.<ref name=":142"/><ref name=":022" /> Similarly, Bab al-Futuh was originally called Bab al-Iqbal, or "the Gate of Prosperity," and was later renamed Bab al-Futuh by Badr al-Gamali.<ref name=":022" />

Bab al-Nasr is flanked by two towers of square shape, with shield insignias carved into the stone, while Bab al-Futuh is flanked by round towers.<ref name=":022" /> The vaulted stone ceilings inside Bab al-Nasr are innovative in design, with the helicoidal vaults being the first of their kind in this architectural context.<ref name=":142"/> The façade of Bab al-Nasr has a frieze containing Kufic inscriptions in white marble, including a foundation inscription and the Shi'a version of the ''[[Shahada]]'' which was representative of the Fatimid caliphate's religious beliefs.<ref name=":322" /><ref name=":022" /><ref name=":04">{{Cite journal |last=Shalem |first=Avinoam |date=1996 |title=A Note on the Shield-Shaped Ornamental Bosses on the Façade of Bāb al-Nasr in Cairo |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629499 |journal=Ars Orientalis |volume=26 |pages=55–64 |issn=0571-1371 |jstor=4629499}}</ref>

Bab al-Futuh features no inscriptions on the gate itself,<ref name=":322" /> but an inscription can be seen nearby to the east, on the wall salient around the northern minaret of the al-Hakim Mosque.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Caroline |title=Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide |publisher=The American University in Cairo Press |year=2018 |edition=7th |location=Cairo}}</ref>{{Rp|page=245}} Inside Bab al-Futuh, through its eastern flanking doorway, is the tomb of an unidentified figure, and through its western flanking doorway is a long vaulted chamber.<ref name=":022" />