by a map.  The well-known citadel of Cairo, standing on the spurs of the Mukattam Hills, was erected by Saladin seven years later.  The Cairo of 1170, which was styled El Medina, and was called by Benjamin [Hebrew:], was founded in 969, and consisted of an immense palace for the Caliph and his large household.  It was surrounded by quarters for a large army, and edifices for the ministers and government offices.  The whole was protected by massive walls and imposing Norman-like gates.  The civil population—­more particularly the Jews—­dwelt in the old Kasr-esh-Shama quarter round the so-called Castle of Babylon, also in the city of Fostat, founded in 641, and in the El-Askar quarter, which was built in 751.  These suburbs went under the name of Misr or Masr, but are called by Benjamin “Mizraim.”  Fostat was set on fire on Nov. 12, 1168, by the order of the Vizier Shawar, in order that it might not give shelter to the Franks who had invaded Egypt, but was soon rebuilt in part.  It now goes under the name Masr-el-Atika, and is noted at the present day for its immense rubbish heaps.  See Stanley Lane Poole’s Cairo, p. 34.]

[Footnote 184:  Cf. two elaborate papers by Dr. A. Buechler, “The Reading of the Law and Prophets in a Triennial Cycle,” J.  Q.R., V, 420, VI, I, and E.N.  Adler, ib.  VIII, 529.  For details as to synagogues, see J.  Q.R., XVIII, 11; Letter I of R. Obadja da Bertinoro; Miscellany of Hebrew Literature, p. 133; Joseph Sambari’s Chronicle in Dr. Neubauer’s Anecdota Oxoniensia, p. 118.  Sambari must have had Benjamin’s Itinerary before him, as has been pointed out by Mr. I. Abrahams, J.  Q.R., II, 107.]

[Footnote 185:  Zunz was the first to put forward the supposition that R. Nethanel is identical with Hibet Allah ibn al Jami, who later on became Saladin’s physician (Asher, vol.  II, p. 253).  Graetz, vol.  VI, p. 307, inclines to the same view.  Dr. Steinschneider, Die arabische Literatur der Juden, 1902, p. 178, confirms this opinion, and gives a detailed account of Hibet Allah’s medical and philosophical works.  Dr. Neubauer, in an article, J.Q.R., VIII, 541, draws attention to a Geniza fragment which contains a marriage contract dated 1160, wherein R. Nethanel is called a Levite.  Benjamin does not style him so here.  The same article contains the so-called Suttah Megillah, on which Professor Kaufmann comments, J.Q.R., X, p. 171.  It would appear that R. Nethanel never attained the dignity of Nagid.  During Benjamin’s visit to Egypt Sutta, in his capacity of Chief Collector of Taxes, filled nominally that office.  Later on, after Sutta’s fall, the dignity of Nagid was offered to Moses Maimonides, but was not accepted by him.]

     [Footnote 186:  This term (which is not given in the printed
     editions) means that the people were followers of Ali, the
     son-in-law of Mohammed, founder of the Shiite sect.]