Namesake
editSharia Sherif Pasha was named after the nationalist Muhammad Sharif, who lived from 1823 to 1887. Sharif, one of the most powerful politicians of his time, came from a fairly undistinguished family in al-Minya province [1] . After becoming sheikh-al-bald of his village, he was subsequently appointed the head of a sub-district in al-Minya, and it was here he made his first connections with the governing family of Pashas. When Ismail Pasha was appointed Viceroy, Sharif was swept up in the current of his largesse (or nepotism), and was appointed governor of al-Gharbiya, a very wealthy province. He continued to enjoy the patronage of Ismail Pasha, and added large amounts of land to his already considerable estate in Upper Egypt [2]. He was involved in creating constitutional reforms and created a council of ministers under Khedive Ismail (Landau 62). He subsequently served as Prime Minister three times during his career [3]
Sherif Pasha St. was formerly known as El-Madabigh St, a region in Upper Egypt located next to the city of Asyut [4]
- ^ Hunter, F. Robert. "The Making of a Notable Politician: Muhammad Sultan Pasha (1825-1884)." International Journal of Middle East Studies 15.4 (1983): 537-44. Print
- ^ Hunter, F. Robert. "The Making of a Notable Politician: Muhammad Sultan Pasha (1825-1884)." International Journal of Middle East Studies 15.4 (1983): 537-44. Print
- ^ Landau, Jacob M. Middle Eastern themes papers in history and politics. London: Cass, 1973. Print.
- ^ cultnat.org
Architecture
editSome notable monuments and buildings:
35 Sherif Pasha St: The Bank of Alexandria
The Bank of Alexandria, one the largest banks in Egypt, was built in a traditional Neo-Islamic Style in the 1900’s [1]
6 Sherif Pasha St.: The Ministry of Endowments
The architect Mahmud Fahmy built the Ministry of Endowments in the 1890’s. It has a Neo-Islamic style with Mameluk influences. The Ministry of Endowments is the government ministry in charge of bestowing religious endowments, usually buildings or a plot of land, for charitable purposes. Mahmud Fahmy was also the chief architect of the Awqaf ministry, and is known for using a revivalist style [2] .
15 Sherif Pasha St.; The Adriatica The architect Florestano de Fausto designed the Adriatica, an Italian insurance company, in the 1930’s (www.cultnat.org). Florestano de Fausto was an architect under the employ of Mussolini who used both local architectural influences combined with modern Art Deco style, and most of his works are found in the former Italian colony of Libya (McLaren 182). Scholars say, “He emphasized the deliberate and studied process of design by which he developed a reciprocal relationship between these projects and their historical and environmental context (McLaren 182).” Therefore, his approach to architecture was syncretic in both conception and execution.
- ^ Cultnat.org
- ^ Robinson, Francis. The Cambridge Illustrated History of the Islamic World. New York: Cambridge UP, 1999. Print
Events
editWeinstein Bookstore is located on Sherif Pasha St. This is a notable landmark because the daughter of the original founder, Carmen Weinstein, is the head of Public Relations for the dwindling Jewish community and chief caretaker of the Sha'ar Hashamayim temple. Weinstein is the second female president in the history of the Jewish community. As of 2007, there are only about 40 Jews remaining in Cairo [1]