Islamic Architecture In Egypt: 09/02/07

Egyption Mosques - Table Of Contentes
Egyption Mosques Manuscript
5.THE MAMLUK PERIOD, 648 - 923H. (1250- 1517 A.D.) .

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38- THE MOSQUE OF SULTAN QAYT- BAY (IN THE MAMLUK CEMETERY) 877- 879H.(1472- 1474) .
THE founder of this mosque was al- Malik al- Ashraf Abu an- Nasr Qayt- Bay, who was brought to Egypt by a slave- dealer, Mahmud ibn Rustum, in 839H. (1435/36). He was bought by al- Malik al- Ashraf Barsbay, and remained among his Mamluks until he was sold to al- Malik az- Zahir Abu Sa'id Jaqmaq, and remained in his service until he set him free. He subsequently occupied several offices until he ascended the throne in Ragab 872H. (1468). His reign lasted for twenty nine years and a few months, and he died in 901H. (1496) , at the age of about eighty- six.
Muslim architecture flourished greatly in his reign. Numerous and varied structures were built; they were characterised by their good proportions, rich ornament, and fine craftsmanship. Although he paid special attention to military buildings, founding the Qayt- Bay fortress in Alexandria, and the fort of Rosetta, he also preoccupied himself with civil and benevolent establishments, thus constructing houses, wikalas, sabils, and drinking- troughs, of which there are many in Cairo. He also repaired and renewed many of the buildings founded by his predecessors.
His care for the construction of mosques was in no way less than for buildings of other kinds. In Cairo, he built three well known mosques, the first at Rawda, the second at Qal'at al- Kabsh, and the third, to which is annexed his mausoleum, in the Mamluk Cemetery, sometimes known as Qayt- Bay's Cemetery.
This mosque is not only a prominent landmark of the cemetery, but also a magnificent specimen of a Mamluk mosque of the end of the ninth century H. (15 th A.D.) , remarkable for fine craftsmanship, beauty of design, and magnificent decoration. Each part of it uncontestably shows that the highest standard of art had been reached. The façade, containing the entrance, the sabil (drinking fountain) with kuttab (for reading classes) above on the left, and the minaret on the right, as well as the dome at the back, forms a harmonious composition. Its minaret is one of the most beautiful of all the Mamluk period, both on account of its harmonious proportions and the magnificence and good distribution of its ornament. The dome also, with its beautiful decoration carved on the stone, may be regarded as one of the most beautiful of Mamluk domes. The same remarks apply to the rest of the façade, both as regards massing and richness of ornament.
The mosque is designed according to the cruciform madrasa plan. It consists of a covered sahn, with a shukhsheikhah (skylight) in the middle of its roof, surrounded by four iwans, the largest of which is the sanctuary. Above the arches runs a band of inscription, bearing the name and titles of the founder and the date of foundation (877H.).
The ceilings of the four ïw?ns and the sahn are decorated with beautiful gilded ornament, and are characterised by the harmony of their colours.
The stone mihrab in the centre of the qibla wall has a hood inlaid with two trefoils in red stone. Next to the mihrab is a wooden minbar, the two sides of which as well as the door, are decorated with geometrical designs and interlacing star patterns, carved and inlaid with ivory. The kursi (reader's seat) in the mausoleum, as well as the leaves of the built- in cupboards in the mosque, are decorated in the same way as the minbar.
The mausoleum is next to the qibla iwan, and is decorated in the same style as the rest. There is a dado of coloured marble, surmounted by a band of inscription, bearing the name and titles of the founder, as well as some prayers in his favour, some Qur'anic verses, and finally, the date of completion (879H.) In the upper part of the walls of the dome and iwans are windows of fine pierced stucco, decorated with coloured glass. The mausoleum, the iwans, and the sahn are paved with coloured marble.
The architect of the mosque has created a masterpiece in architecture and decoration. Qayt- Bay did not, however, stint the expenditure, so that the mosque, when finished, formed a masterpiece of fine art. The Department for the Preservation of Arab Monuments, towards the end of the 19th. century, took the greatest care in restoring this famous building. This restoration included the woodwork, marble, decoration, and stucco window- grilles.
Plates 124- 127.
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