Madrasa and Mosque of al-Ashraf Qaitbay at the Mamluk Cemetery
Madrasa and Mosque of al-Ashraf Qaitbay at the Mamluk
Cemetery
Introduction
This complex (Madrasa, mosque, Khanqaa, dome and
Sabil-Kuttab) is built by Sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay in (877-879 H./1472-1474
A.D.) at the Mamluk cemetery.
The Founder
Qaitbay was a Mamluk of al-Ashraf Bersbay, then he
appointed to many important positions during reigns of al-Zaher Jaqmaq,
al-Ashraf Inal and their successors, till he ascended the throne in (872 H./
1468 A.D.).
He ruled Egypt for about 29 years that was relatively
a stable era, and died in (901 H./ 1496 A.D.)
His reign was a golden age of architecture and
decorative arts. His endeavors to improve commercial relations with Europe and
boost export trade led to the revival of many crafts.
The main threat during his reign was the increasing
power of the Ottomans and their interference in Asia Minor, which was a
continuous headache to the Circassian Sultans.
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The
General plan
The
entrance lies at the main façade (north eastern façade) leads to Dirkah which
has two doors, the left one leads to the Sabil-kuttab, while the right one
leads to a covered court "Dur-Qa'a". This court is surrounded by two
main Iwans (the Qibla Iwan and the faced Iwan) and two small side Iwans
(Sidila). There
is a mausoleum is attached to the complex at the southern side
External
description:
This
complex has two facades, the main façade at the north eastern side, and the
subsidiary façade at the south eastern side.
The
Main Façade
This
façade lies at the north eastern façade, and contains the main entrance, the
minaret and the Sabil-Kuttab.
The
Main Entrance
The
main entrance is crowned with tri-lobed arch supported by stalactites and is
lined with a continuous molding. The middle part of the entrance has a metal
grill window topped by a stalactite top. The lower part of the entrance has a
wooden entrance door decorated with gilded bronze medallion. This entrance door
is topped by a plain lintel, the tympanum, then a relieving arch of Ablaq
floral joggled voussoirs.
The
Minaret
The
Minaret is built on the Mamluk style and consists of a square base topped by
a first octagonal shaft, a second circular shaft, a third shaft in the shape of
an open pavilion, and finally a bulbous top.
The
first octagonal shaft is decorated with opened and block niches, and crowned
with a circular balcony supported by stalactites. The second circular shaft is
decorated with geometrical decorations and crowned with a circular balcony
supported by stalactites. The pavilion is crowned with a circular balcony supported
by stalactites.
The
Sabil-Kuttab.
It
lies at the eastern corner of the complex. The Sabil has two Sabil windows: one
at the north eastern side and the other at the South eastern side. Each window
is made of metal grills and topped by a lintel of Mushahar joggled voussoirs,
then a tympanum and a relieving arch of Mushahar joggled voussoirs.
The
Kuttab has two balconies overlooking the street, one at the north eastern side
and the other at the South eastern side. Each one consists of arched arcade and
has wooden balustrade of turned wood.
The Kuttab
is roofed by a sunshade.
The
Subsidiary Facade
It
lies at the south eastern side, and is crowned with a cresting in the shape of a
triple leaf. This façade contains the Sabil-Kuttab, facade of the Qibla Iwan,
and the mausoleum which covered by a dome decorated with geometrical decoration.
This
façade consists of a number of shallow vertical recesses. Each one is crowned
with stalactites and contains two windows, the lower one is metal grill window,
while the upper one is an arched rectangular window (Shamsya).
The
metal grill window is topped by a lintel of floral Mushahar joggled voussoirs, the
tympanum, and a relieving arch of floral Mushahar joggled voussoirs.
The
Internal Description:
The
entrance door leads to a Dirkah roofed by wooden beams with rectangles and
squares decorated with geometrical designs and star patterns. The Dirkah has two doors, the right
one leads to a corridor which has a Mazamala with a screen of turned wood.
The corridor leads to a covered court
(Dur-qa'a) which is roofed by a skylight "Shukhshikha" decorated with
geometrical decorations. The covered court is surrounded by two main iwans (the
Qibla and faced iwans) and two small side iwans (Sidila).
The
Qibla Iwan
The
Qibla Iwan overlooks the Dur-Qa'a with an Ablaq horse-shoe arch. This Iwan is
roofed by wooden beams with rectangles and squares decorated with geometrical
designs and star patterns.
In
the middle of the Qibla Iwan there is a prayer niche (Mihrab) free from
decoration. This Mihrab is crowned with double Mushahar pointed arch resting on
two granite columns. Over the Mihrab, is a circular window "Qamariya"
made of stucco interlaced with colored glass.
At
the two side of the Mihrab, there are four arched recesses. Each one has a
metal grill window and topped by an arched rectangular window "shamsiya"
made of stucco interlaced with colored glass.
Beside the Mihrab,
is the pulpit "Minbar" which consists of a front door, two sides
"Risha" topped by two balustrades, the Imam's seat surrounded by the
pavilion which is crowned by a bulbous top, and the two Rawda doors.
The front
door, the two sides "Risha", the two balustrades, and the two Rawda
doors, all are decorated with geometrical decoration in the shape
of star patterns and polygons. Over the front door is a
restoration text containing the name of "khedive Abass Helmy".
The Faced
Iwan
The faced
Iwan overlooks the court with an Ablaq Horse-shoe arch. This
Iwan is roofed by wooden beams with rectangles and squares decorated with geometrical
designs and star patterns.
The Two Side
Iwans
Each of the two
small
side Iwans (Sidila) overlooks the
court with an Ablaq pointed arch.
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