The Art And Architecture of Islamic Cairo
The Art And Architecture of Islamic Cairo
The Art And Architecture of Islamic Cairo
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
hint <strong>of</strong> the extensive accommodation that lies behind. Each madrasa<br />
forms a discrete unit with its own sahn, fountain and qibla iwan over-<br />
looked by ranks <strong>of</strong> student rooms. Due to the irregular plan <strong>of</strong> the<br />
building the madrasas are unequal in size, but the two largest,<br />
situated on either side <strong>of</strong> the qibla iwan, were dedicated to the<br />
Hanafi and Shafi’i madhahib followed by the Mamluk class and the<br />
bulk <strong>of</strong> the Egyptian population.<br />
<strong>The</strong> qibla iwan is a tour de force <strong>of</strong> Mamluk design. Its decoration<br />
is concentrated on the qibla wall dado, consisting <strong>of</strong> polychrome<br />
panels in antique green, grey, white, buff, pink and red marble. <strong>The</strong><br />
mihrab is flanked by pairs <strong>of</strong> Crusader Gothic columns with gilded<br />
capitals, supporting two pointed arches radiating with the fretwork<br />
patterns <strong>of</strong> the joggled voussoirs. Chevrons in marble marquetry fill<br />
the hood, and the rest <strong>of</strong> the niche is decorated with arcades <strong>of</strong><br />
polychrome panels. <strong>The</strong> mihrab is framed at the top with a rectangu-<br />
lar band <strong>of</strong> gilded Naskhi, and gilding is also used to pick out the<br />
arabesque detail in the borders and spandrels <strong>of</strong> the mihrab arcades.<br />
<strong>The</strong> composition <strong>of</strong> the white marble minbar is similar to that in the<br />
mosque <strong>of</strong> Aqsunqur, but here it is set against its original background,<br />
beautifully integrated in this rich polychrome ensemble. Above the<br />
dado, and running around all three walls <strong>of</strong> the iwan, is a magnificent<br />
band <strong>of</strong> Kufic carved in stucco. <strong>The</strong> elegant calligraphy is beautifully<br />
integrated into an arabesque background depicting Chinese lotus<br />
flowers, showing further evidence <strong>of</strong> Ilkhanid influence.<br />
Two doors with iron grilles standing on either end <strong>of</strong> the qibla<br />
wall lead into the mausoleum. <strong>The</strong> interior space measures 21 metres<br />
by 30 metres, and the walls are pierced at ground level with six<br />
rectangular iron-grilled windows looking out towards the Citadel and<br />
above: Stucco Kufic inscription in the qibla iwan <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Sultan Hasan mosque.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Architecture</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Bahri Mamluks 161