Qala'un complex

The Qala'un, Qalawun complex (ar:مجمع قلاون) is a Massive complex that includes a Madrasa and a Mausoleum built by Al-Nasir Muhammad Ibn Qalawun, the Sultan Nasir (son of Qalawun) was a small man of ruthless courage and great intellect whose reign marked a high point in Mamluk Culture, some thirty surviving mosques were built during his time.

History

the complex was begun in 1285 by the Mongol Sultan Kitbuqa, who ruled only breifly, and was completed by al-Nasir in 1304, around 80 years after Barquq's Monument next door.a white Marble Gothic gate doorway came from the Crusader church of st. George in Acre, which was captured by al-Nasir's older brother Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. and at the Appex of the pointed Arch the word "Allah" has been added.

Architecture

The marble Gothic portal leads into a passage separating the Mausoleum from the Madrasah, which are entered at two doors at the far end. The tomb is on the right, and the Madrasah, the first in Cairo to use the cruciform plan, is to the left of the entrance. inside , the four Iwans once contained the four diferent law schools, on the east side is a fine Stucco Mihrab, the interior was in a a poor condition until 2000, when a massive Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Project (HCRP) plan was made for the entire Muizz Street, planned to be completed by October 2008. The Mausoleum contains the bodies of al-Nasir' mother, and his son. while the sultan is burreid in the adjoining Mausoleum built by his father, Sultan Qalawun

External Links

*http://touregypt.net/qalauncomp.htm
*http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/865/fe1.htm
*http://web.mit.edu/4.614/www/complexqalawun.html
*http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=2108