The empty pedestal
Since 1956.
אברהם דר עתלית — CC BY-SA 3.0 · אברהם דר עתלית — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gememoreerd persoon / commemmorated person: Graaf F.M. (Ferdinand Marie) de Lesseps (Versailles 1805 - La Chênaie 1894)Uitgever / publisher: Simon Arzt Store Fotostudio: Lehnert & Landrock — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Unknown — Public domain · Matson Collection — Public domain · Willem van de Poll — CC0 · Afgebeelde persoon / depicted constituent: Graaf F.M. (Ferdinand Marie) de Lesseps (Versailles 1805 - La Chênaie 1894)Fotograaf / photographer: P. Peridis — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Matson Collection — Public domain
A massive stone pedestal at the mouth of the Suez Canal that, from 17 November 1899 to 23 December 1956, carried a colossal statue of Ferdinand de Lesseps, the man behind the canal, by the French sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet. It stands on the rock that served as the first mooring when the city was founded, after de Lesseps struck the first blow of the pickaxe on 25 April 1859. The canal opened on 17 November 1869, so the statue went up on its 30th anniversary to greet ships entering it. After the 1956 Suez War the statue was taken down, and the empty pedestal still stands as a reminder of those events. The statue has never returned, and plans to bring it back have repeatedly stirred debate. The pedestal is not open inside and is best seen from the seafront at the canal mouth; combine it with the old Port Said Lighthouse, the Suez Canal Authority building and the free ferry to Port Fuad. The photos here are historical views of the statue before it came down.
Since 1956.
Passing ships.
The statue in place.
Mouth of the Suez Canal, west breakwater, Port Said
Port Said LighthouseA historic octagonal lighthouse in central Port Said, completed in 1869 a week b8 minutes walk4.5
Suez Canal Authority BuildingPort Said's most famous and beautiful building, standing on the bank of the Suez19 minutes walk4.6
Al-Shatee Mosque, Port SaidOne of Port Said's landmark mosques, facing the city beach that gives it its nam20 minutes walk
Port Fuad and the Canal FerryA small town on the east bank of the Suez Canal opposite Port Said, founded in 121 minutes walk4.8No; it was taken down after the 1956 Suez War and has never returned, plans to bring it back stir debate, and the pedestal still stands at the canal mouth.