Islamic Art History: The Mosque Islamic Art History: The Mosque of Ibn Tulunof Ibn Tulun

byby

Oscar GonzalezOscar Gonzalez

Ibn TulunIbn Tulun

The mosque of Ibn Tulun, the largest and second oldest in Cairo, was built between 876 and 879. It is next in age to the seventh century Amr mosque, the first mosque built in Egypt. The Amr mosque was rebuilt several times and its original plan is unknown.  Ibn Tulun was, until recently, the oldest mosque in the city preserved in its original condition. Renovations begun within the last couple of years (2000-2002) have rendered that claim no longer possible. 

a rectangular area that is 122 m wide and 146 m deep

A ziyada surrounds mosque making area 6.5 acres.

DimensionsDimensions

Also on page 31.

ZiyadaZiyada

The ziyada is on three sides of the mosque, but not on the side of the qibla. The qibla wall connected to three rooms that were used for administration purposes.

The wall contains a frieze that consists of circles within squares.

Above frieze was crenellations that resembled human figures.

The FountainThe Fountain

The Fountain at Ibn TulunThe Fountain at Ibn Tulun

The fountain ( fuwara) in the middle of the sahn was not originally built for ablutions (these would have been done outside the mosque), but later on it was decided to offer it for this purpose. The sahn is almost perfectly square, 302 feet on a side, surrounded on all four sides by porticoes (riwaqs), two aisles deep on three sides, five aisles deep on the mihrab side ("prayer niche" marking the qibla or "direction" toward Mecca). 

Ibn Duqmaq described the structure:

“the fawwara which was in the middle of the sahn had windows on all sides, and over it was a gilt dome on ten marble columns, and round it were sixteen marble columns with a marble pavement. And under the dome was a great basin of marble, 4 cubits in diameter with a jet of water in the centre...and on the roof was a sun-dial. The roof had a railing round it of teakwood (saj).” 

InscriptionsInscriptions

Other Features:

• pointed arches

• dome with squinches

Conservation or Vandalism?Conservation or Vandalism?

Conservation or Vandalism?Conservation or Vandalism?

For some people renovating these types of old mosques is considered to be more a vandalism than an actual renovation. Some people think that these ancient structures should be left alone in their original state and that they should be taken care of, but not to the point of restoring them.