Hand-Book for Travellers in (Lower and Upper) Egypt [Afterw.] Handbook for Egypt and the Sudan. Being a New Ed. of 'Modern Egypt and Thebes' by Sir G. Wilkinson (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 Excerpt: ...cells, which are situated to the S. of the open court. Passing through these, we enter the hall for the zikr (which takes place every Tuesday (see p. 215), contiguous to the sanctuary of the mosque. It is spanned by two large arches. The Emeer elrKebeer Seyf eddeen Sheykho en-Nasree was a Memlook who rose to eminence in tho time of enNasr ibn-Kalaoon. He became regent during the short reign of es-Saleh, eighth son of En-Nasr. He was put to death, like so many of En-Nasr's Emeers. The Mosque of Merdanee (Gamah Merdanee), 1338-1340 A.d., situated in the Darb el-Ahmar, leading from the Bab Zuweyleh to the citadel, is one of the best of the edifices erected during the reign of En-Nasr ibn Kalaoon. Like so many others, it is falling into ruin. In general plan it bears the greatest resemblance to the mosque of Koossoon, and was probably by the same architect. It consists of a large open court, surrounded by porticos or colonnades with pointed arches, a double row on the NW. and S. sides, and four rows in the Sanctuary or Mecca side. The two innermost ranges terminate as they approach the kibleh, and give place to eight large granite pillars, intended to support a dome, which however does not exist, a flat roof now taking its place. Most of the mosaics and decorations of the mosque have disappeared. It is worthy of notice that trees are represented in stucco upon the wall above the kibleh, and upon those borne by the pillars. Above one of the arches in the W. portico is an inscription in Arabic, on a slab of blue stone embedded in stucco. The principal entrance is on the N. side, beneath a vaulted passage, to the left of which rises the minaret. This mosque was built upon what was at that time a cemetery. Makreezee tells us that the cost of the mosque was 300,000 ...