Cairo University Clock, Clock tower at Cairo University, Egypt
The Cairo University Clock Tower is a 42-meter-tall clock tower on the campus of Cairo University in Giza, Egypt. It carries five copper bells, one large central bell and four smaller ones, and its glass clock faces are lit from inside at night.
The tower was built in 1937 and took design cues from London's Big Ben. It was one of the first structures of its kind in Egypt and shaped the character of the campus from its earliest days.
The tower serves as a natural meeting point for students who gather near its base between classes. The bell chimes mark the hours in a way that has shaped the daily rhythm of campus life for generations.
The tower is easiest to appreciate by walking around the open areas of the university grounds and looking at it from different angles. Evening is a good time to visit since the illuminated clock faces stand out against the dark sky.
The bells ring in different patterns depending on the time: four chimes at each quarter hour, eight at the half hour, and a count matching the full hour. This system follows the same logic as its London model and has remained in use to this day.
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