Very few cities can date their foundation so precisely but, as in so many other things, Cairo is exceptional.
On 8 August 969, the Fatimid General Gawhar had completed his conquest of the old capital, al-Fustat, and had earmarked a site to the north east for the new Caliph’s Palace.
The area had been roped off, bells were hanging on the ropes and labourers stood around waiting for them to ring – the signal to start work. The story goes that General Gawhar was waiting for the most favourable conjunction of planets before giving the order. But as Mars reached its zenith a raven flew down and perched on the rope. The bells rang, the workers swung their mattocks and the city
