Mosques and Minarets

 

This is neither temple nor mosque,

but is the Cairo Citadel.

But, wait, there's more.

This fortress was built to protect the city and dates back to Medieval times

by Sultan Saladin (Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi), though it wasn't completed

during his lifetime.  Its location on the

Muqattam Hills provided an ideal defensive position from invaders and enables 

a full view of the city of Cairo.

The Citadel is also the location of the Mosque of Muhammed Ali.

Built in 1848 AD, it is also sometimes referred to as the Alabaster Mosque, for the

stone paneling on the interior.

Built in the Turkish style, it has an outer courtyard.

This structure was used by prayer attendees to wash their feet

before entering the hall.

Seats and spigots.

I didn't need to cover my head here, but I was asked to

wear these plastic booties over my shoes.

In the other mosques, I had to remove my shoes and walk around in my socks.

The alabaster glows.

The twin minarets are the tallest in Egypt, at 84 meters (275 feet).

Inside the prayer hall.

The dome

though I didn't know it when I took this picture, behind me is the

shrine to Muhammed Ali.

These are minbars, or pulpits.

The original in green and the newer one behind in marble.

Cats are allowed inside the mosques because they clean themselves.

Dogs are not permitted, because they don't keep their paws clean.

The view from the Citadel.

You can see the Great Pyramids from here.

My guide then took me to the Madrasa of Sultan Hassan

and Al-Rifa'i Mosque.

Sleeping in the sun.

Cave-like, stalactite decorative forms in the dome.

The Sultan Hassan Mosque contains a Madrasa, or school.

Students of the Sunni philosophy would fill the main hall.

It was founded in 1356 AD by the Sultan Hassan, and was completed in 1359.

The stonework in the shrine room.

Feels like a time warp.

Like I was plopped down in the Medieval era.

While it was very hot outside, inside these buildings it was relatively

comfortable. A few large fans helped to keep the air moving,

but the high ceilings help to keep the interior cool.

This mosque is next to the Madrasa. It was built around 1361 and

is called Al-Rifa'i Mosque.

in the Hassan Madrasa.

These buildings were next to each other, so I think my memory

is combining them. But they are separate, distinct structures.

A beautifully decorated book holder.

The reader would sit on the platform, and the V-shaped part would

support the book.

scenes from the car

The last mosque I was taken to is the Al-Azhar Mosque.

After removing my shoes, I was given a hooded dress to wear over

my clothes.

My guide and I then walked to the interior courtyard of gleaming white.

In this picture you can see the pulpit above.

Minarets added to the building in later periods.

My guide was very well prepared with information about

the history of the places we visited.

This is a working mosque. People study and pray here.

Because of this, it's the strictest with the dress code.

The hooded dress to cover my womanly form.

The double finial minaret on the left.

It's really a beautiful building.

And so bright white it hurt my eyes.

The view from the outside.

In the bottom of the frame, you can just see the part of a set of stairs.

The stairs lead down to a tunnel, to make it safer to cross the street.

In the tunnel.

Cairo cats. People feed them, apparently.

Community cats.

I'm not a religious person, and though I was aware enough to expect it,

there is a bit of a culture shock in a Muslim country.

When in another's home, it is up to the guest to be respectful and gracious.

 

When in Egypt, do as the Egyptians do.