Ferdinand De Lesseps Statue Base: A Memento of the Suez Canal

Located in Shokri, Port Said, the Ferdinand De Lesseps statue base marks the spot where a 33-foot bronze statue once stood. Erected in 1899, the statue honored Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French diplomat and engineer behind the Suez Canal. The statue was designed by French artist Emmanuel Frimim. It depicted De Lesseps with his right hand welcoming visitors entering the Suez Canal, and his left hand holding a map of the canal.The statue was removed on December 23, 1956, during the Suez Crisis. While there have been discussions about reinstating the statue, it has not been returned to its original location. Today, only the concrete base remains.Despite the absence of the statue, the base remains a point of interest for visitors. It provides a tangible connection to the history of the Suez Canal and the transformative impact it had on global trade. The base is located near the Port Said Corniche, a pedestrian walkway lined with historical buildings and attractions.