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.

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.