Nabi Daniel in Alexandria.. The Street of Books, History... and Culture!

Nabi Daniel Street derives its importance from its location west of the Kom El-Dikka area, including its Roman baths and the Roman Theater, which served as a major listening hall for political speeches and scientific discussions dating back to the second century AD.

Ahwal Al-Maarifa: Special

Nabi Daniel Street in Alexandria is one of the city's most important streets, and it is among the most famous landmarks of the "Bride of the Mediterranean," as its residents call it. This is due to the historical and cultural landmarks it contains that are hardly found elsewhere. The street houses the Daniel Mosque, and the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, which is the oldest church in Africa, in addition to the Eliyahu Hanavi Synague. Thus, the street is considered - as Dr. Mahmoud Al-Shal, Professor of History at Alexandria University, says - a true witness to the meeting of civilizations and religions. (1),

However, with our love for history and its landmarks, this is not the main point of this report. This is because Nabi Daniel Street has another character and a quality known to every lover of culture, books, and reading: its fame for the presence of bookstores lining both sides, selling books of all kinds, types, and printing eras.

Street Description

Nabi Daniel Street extends from Mahatet El-Raml to Mahatet Misr for a distance of approximately one kilometer. Its history dates back to the beginning of the city's construction itself. When Alexander the Great ordered the construction of Alexandria, it was built according to the Hippodamian plan, which means a grid pattern or chessboard. The city was divided into two main streets, one longitudinal and the other transverse, whose intersection created a large square in the middle. It is believed that Nabi Daniel Street is part of the longitudinal main street.

As for the reason for naming the street after Nabi Daniel, there is disagreement. Some attribute it to the Prophet Daniel, one of the prophets of the children of Israel, dating back to the sixth century BC. Others return the naming to Sheikh Muhammad Daniel Al-Mosuli, a Shafi'i sheikh who came to Alexandria in the late eighth century AH and built his mosque in the street in 1790 AD.

Destination for Reading Lovers

Despite the presence of many commercial shops on Nabi Daniel Street, the cultural character is dominant. It competes with the Azbakeya Wall in Cairo. The street is a destination for students, researchers, and book lovers. The street is truly a permanent book fair where kiosks selling used books are scattered along both sides, selling textbooks, novels, and stories in various languages at low prices.

The book sellers have been in the street since the 1940s. Their numbers grew gradually to dozens today. These sellers consider their work a service to people alongside material gain, especially since 90% of them are now university graduates. Known as the "Street of Books," it is frequented by many Arab and foreign nationalities, as Alexandria is a beautiful summer resort. It has always been a point of interest for foreign ambassadors and Egyptian and French writers like Naguib Mahfouz, Gamal Al-Ghitani, and Alaa Al-Aswany. (3)

Developing the Street of Books

Nabi Daniel Street has underne development more than once. In September 2012, a decision was made to replace wooden kiosks with libraries suitable for the street's heritage status. In 2017, the Urban Heritage Council decided to preserve heritage buildings on the street with a cost of 27 million pounds. The development included three phases, removing violations, unifying signage, designating pedestrian paths, and installing appropriate lighting and seating. (5)

References

1. Masress Website 2010/5/11

2. Previous

3. Al-Bayan Books Website 2013/6/8

4. Welad El-Balad Website 2016/9/19

5. Al-Fajr Newspaper Feb 6, 2018