THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE BAHRI MAMLUKS

The MOSQUE of Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars (1266-69).
The Mosque of Sultan Al-Zahir is the triumph of early mameluke’s Architecture, which is survived. The mosque is located at the northwest of Fatimid’s gate. Al-Zahir is a truly depicted to Al-Azhar mosque. When we discuss the exterior of the building the key features which makes the building more attractive are the stone carving on the outside. The entrance is covered with carving decoration. Pointed arches and rectangular piers holds interior of the building and three entrances. Majority of the columns was not originally existed.
The whole structure of Al-Zahir is supported by the buttresses. Napoleon Army used this Building as a fortress. The main entrance is opposite to prayer niche which was decorated with carving work. The passage used for the main entrance is covered with a shallow dome on gate of Babul Futuh. The other side entrance has differently carved arches. A minaret is aside of main entrance. The exterior has no decoration work except arch, stucco, grills.
The interior of Al-Zahir contain a remarkable prayer niche the main features of interior of the building are the bays, maqsura, for the royals and bays three by three on both sides with sealing or signal dome like previous mosques. The dome named babyras is decorated with wood and marble is not preserved. The impact of Seljuk’s work in Persia is depicted in the prayer niche.
The Masonry of Ablaq (stripped course of light and dark stone) is the earliest example of its use. Creswell defines the importance of this kind of masonry which was used further in Cairo’s architecture. The two colors red and black were mostly used with the combination of white color. Use of stucco work on windows grill and carved arabesques seen inside but the very few original works remain.
Chapter seven: Islamic Architecture in Cairo an introduction.