Islamic Egypt
Visitors to Egypt
find it remarkable that the story of a civilization more than 50
centuries old could be so eloquently told by the variety of
monuments which stand throughput the land. Born on the Banks of the
Nile as early as the third millennium B.C., Egyptian civilitazion
developed to achieve unprecendatred peaks in architecture, sculpture
and painting. True, it's development was interrupted for brief
periods during the Persian, Greek and Roman invasions, but the
advent of Islam early in the seventh century A.D. ushered in a new
era and Al-Fustat, the first Islamic capital of Egypt marked a
definite turning point. The Islamic intellectual revival,
particularly in the natural sciences and philosphy, was accompanied
by new styles in architecture which still developed under the
various dynasties that ruled Islamic Egypt- the Omayyads, the
Tpulounids, the Fatimids, the Ayyoubids, the Mamelukes, and finally
the Ottomans.
This page is divided into three sections:
- Mosques
- Islamic
Buildings
- Islamic
Monuments
Mosques:
Mosque of Amr Ibn al-Aas: Founded
by Amr Inb al-Aas in 642(21H), north of the site of thre Roman
Fortress of Babylon, it is considered to be the earliest mosque in
Egypt. Simple in design, its present plan consists of an open sahn (
court ) surrounded by four riwags, the largest being the Qiblah
riwag with marble pillars.
Al-Aqmar Mosque: Built
in 519 H. (1125 AD) by the Al-AMer Bi-Ankham Allah, this mosque is
in Al-Muezz Li-Din Allah Street. It is one of the rare Fatimid
buildings that still retains its beauty and elegance. Its stone
facade teams with Kutic decorations and inscriptions.
The Mosque and Madrassan of Sultan Hassan: Bulit
in 1356 AD. It was started at the orders of Sultan Hassan Ibn
Qalawon as a mosque and madrasah to teach the four schools. It is
composed of an open court, surrounded by four iwans for the four
schools.
Mosque of Al-Mu'ayid: This
mosque was built in 1420 AD, adjoining Bab Zuweilla. Al-Mu'ayid, a
Circassian prince, had been imprisoned in that place where he
pledged to build a mosque should he gain his freedom. When he became
Sultan, he built this mosque whose minaret rises above Bab Zuweilla.
The Citadel of Salah Al-Din: The
Citadel was built in 1183 AD along the lines of a medievel fortress.
It has a well, 90 meters deep, known as Bir Youssef, to provide the
citadel with water in times of siege.
Other
Mosques:
- Mosque of
Ahmed Ibn Tulun
- Al- Azhar
Mosque
- Mosque of
Al-Hakem
- Al Seleh
Tala'e Mosque
- Mosque of
Aq-Sonqor
- Mosque of
Imam Hussein
- Mosque and
Dome of Imam Al-Shafei
- The
Madrassah and Dome of Al-Mansour Qalawon
- & many
more.....................................
Islamic Buildings:
Islamic Arts Museum: Located in Midan Bab al-Khalq, it is regarded
as the largest museum of Islamic arts in the Middle east. It houses
80,000 rare ancient relics from the dawn of Islam until the end of
the Ottoman period. It comprises two new rooms housing textiles,
rare gold and silver coins, as well as royal medals. The museum also
has a library with valuable books on Islamic civilization, and a
collection of rare manuscripts of the Quran, including the largest
copy of the quran in Kuflic script on gazelle skin.
The Manial Palce Museum: In Al-Manial, overlooking the Nile, it was
the private residence of Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfic. Its
architecture is a mixture of Persian, Moroccan and Turkish styles.
In a corner of its spacious garden is the Manial Palace Hotel.
Beit al- Kreitleya: Built in 1631 AD. It is named after its last
owner, a lady from Crete. The Government turned it into a museum
with the name of Gayer Anderson, its supervisor.
Other Islamic Buildings:
- Bab al-Sar
- Bab al-Fattouh
- Beit al-Sehemi
- Wikalet al-
Ghouri
- Khan
Khalilii Bazar
- Beit Gamai
al-Din al Zahabi
Islamic Monuments:
The Agha Khan Mausoleum( shown to the left): Agha
Khan was the late leader of the Ismalii sect. The tomb, a
masterpiece of Arab Fatimid architecture, on the west bank of the
Nile opposite the Catract Hotel, houses a coffin of white marble.
Mosque of Abul Abbas al-Mursi: It
was named after Abul Abbas, a disiciple of the great Hussein al-Shazli.
Mosque of Sayed al-Badawy: It
is one of the most important Islamic landmarks in Egypt, outside
Cairo, because of its large size, elegance and fine architecture.
The Fortress Of Salah al-Din on Pharaoh's Island: This
fortress, built by Sultan al-Din al-Ayyoubi towards the end of the
12th century AD, lies about 60 kilometers north of the town of
Nuweiba and 8 kilometers south of Taba, on Pharaohs Island to
protect the Gulf of Aqaba against foreign invaders and to safeguard
the pilgrims and trade route. There are also towers to house carrier
pigeons, which were used for relaying messages in the Middle Ages.
The Tomb of Al Nabi Haroun: It
lies in Al-Raha plain in Catherine Valley, near Jabal Sifsafa.
Other Islamic Monuments:
- The Fort of
Qait Bay
- Mosque of
Ibarahim al-dessouky in desouk
- Mosque of
Abdul Rahim al-Qena'i in Qena
- Mosque of
Al-Fouly in Minya
- Mosque of
Abul Hagag in Luxor
- The tomb of
Al Nabi Al-Saleh
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