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Kom El Shoqafa is an ancient archaeological site in Alexandria. The region was part of the national district where the Egyptians lived. The name means "mound of shards," referring to the massive number of pottery pieces discovered in the area. During the Graeco-Roman period, the relatives of the deceased used to visit him, bringing their food and beverages in pottery vessels for their consumption, and they used to break these vessels at the end of the day.
In 1900, the catacombs were discovered accidentally when a donkey fell into a hole, and then part of the ground of the first floor appeared. After that, the mounds of sand and rubbish were removed, and the interior was illuminated by electricity. The catacomb dates back to the second century A.D., but it is believed that it was used until the fourth century A.D. A wealthy Roman family is believed to be the owner of the catacomb. For an unknown reason, it turned into a public tomb. The catacomb consists of three storeys. The first storey begins with a spiral staircase running around a shaft leading to the vestibule. The third storey is full of water. Generally, the catacomb is a clear example of how ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman art blended. The god Anubis, for instance, was represented as a Roman soldier holding a spear and shield.