FOSTAT. The first Muslim capital of Egypt, founded by Amr, the Persian conqueror of Egypt in A.D. 645. Fostat signi fies "the tent," being built on the site where Amr pitched his tent when he was besieging Babylon. In later times the city became known as Masr or Misr, this being also the Arabian name for the city of Cairo, later for Egypt, and was the residence of the naibs or lieutenants.
At the present time it is represented by Masr-el-Atika or "Old Cairo." See CAIRO; EGYPT; and ARABIA.