Suez Canal Monument: A Tribute to History

Located in El Qantara El Sharqiya, the Suez Canal Monument stands as a testament to the construction of the Suez Canal, a pivotal waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The monument commemorates the defense of the Canal Zone during World War I and celebrates the canal's monumental success and the ingenuity required for its creation. The monument, designed by French architect Michel Roux-Spitz and sculptor Raymond Delamarre, was constructed between 1926 and 1930. It features impressive sculptures and inscriptions that narrate the canal's 19th-century beginnings, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of its construction. The design incorporates elements that underline the vastness of the landscape, with large ramps leading to the platform on which it stands. Originally, the monument featured two 40-meter high pylons and two huge statues of winged angels symbolizing “Serene Intelligence” and “Severe Force”. The Suez Canal itself, starting in Port Said and stretching 120 miles to Suez, revolutionized trade routes between Europe and Asia. The canal's construction, beginning in 1859, involved around 30,000 workers and was initially opposed by the British due to fears of threatened maritime supremacy. The canal was nationalized by President Nasser of Egypt in 1956, leading to the Suez Crisis. Today, the Suez Canal remains a vital asset in international commerce.