DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2873#0033
THE CITADEL OF CAIRO,
WITH THE MOSQUE OF MOHAMMAD 'ALEE, FROM A CEMETERY TO THE SOUTH-EAST,
AT THE FOOT OF THE GEBEL EL-MUKATTAM.
cHE Citadel (El-Kal'ah) was founded by Salah-ed-Deen (Saladin), a. d. 1176-7. It overlooks
Cairo from the south-east, crowning a rocky hill 250 feet above the level of the plain ; and
vas constructed mainly of the materials of a number of small pyramids, adjacent to those
vhich still form conspicuous, though distant objects, as seen from this elevation.
The great mosque within its walls we watched for years in its slow progress. It is the
Mosque of Mohammad 'Alee; and there, by his direction, he was interred. The architecture
is of a mixed character, and not rich in decoration, though the building is very costly: its columns are of
alabaster, and its proportions have a certain grandeur; but the minarets, being very lofty, and peculiarly
Mender, produce an incongruous effect. To the right of it is the extensive ruined mosque of the Sultan
Mohammad Ibn-Kala-oon, with two minarets, and the base of a dome. It was built in the early part of the
fourteenth century. On the round tower, a little more to the right, may be traced a telegraph, the first of a
series extending to Alexandria. Several very large palaces are included in the Citadel, together with a
labyrinth of private dwellings.
The lower strata of the Mukattam range will interest the geologist, and many a powerful glass will be
used to magnify the base, which, in two semicircular projections, is happily brought into the right of this view.
The Gebel El-Mukattam commands the Citadel, as the latter commands Cairo. Between them runs a shallow-
valley, in which the most interesting objects are the cemetery in this view, and the picturesque houses and
enclosures attached to it. These were erected for the accommodation of mourners who periodically pay their
visits here to wail at the tombs of their relations and friends, especially on the occasions of the two Moham-
madan festivals—the greater and lesser 'Eed, called by the Turks the two Beirams,—when the cemeteries are
crowded to excess, and, as the houses are private property, tents are pitched for those who do not
possess them. Long trains of women and children are then seen visiting the burial-grounds, and the first
impression is that it is an interesting and affecting sight, and it is natural to listen, and to hush every sound
besides, that the melancholy and measured wail may be heard as it is borne upon the air. While the
periodical expression of sorrow does violence to established conviction, that the anguish of bereavement belongs
to no particular day, there is something in the belief that those Eastern mourners are on their way to perform
pious duties which fascinates the spectator; but, if they be followed to the houses, it will be seen that, with
very few exceptions, they have brought with them every luxury that their homes could spare—cushions,
mattresses, prayer-carpets, and good cheer of every description suitable to the climate. The rich are attended
by their slaves, and the poorer have begged and borrowed all that they require for the journey and the stay.
Especially on the occasions of the two festivals, the so-called sorrowing Muslims eat, drink, and enjoy them-
selves during three days and nights; and they delight in unusually large gatherings, for the reason, often
expressed, that the more numerous the party, the merrier are the groups assembled. The women generally
take a palm-branch to break up and place on the tomb, and some cakes or bread to distribute to the poor:
this is done for the sake of the dead, in whose register it is supposed to be put down by the recording angel.
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1
WITH THE MOSQUE OF MOHAMMAD 'ALEE, FROM A CEMETERY TO THE SOUTH-EAST,
AT THE FOOT OF THE GEBEL EL-MUKATTAM.
cHE Citadel (El-Kal'ah) was founded by Salah-ed-Deen (Saladin), a. d. 1176-7. It overlooks
Cairo from the south-east, crowning a rocky hill 250 feet above the level of the plain ; and
vas constructed mainly of the materials of a number of small pyramids, adjacent to those
vhich still form conspicuous, though distant objects, as seen from this elevation.
The great mosque within its walls we watched for years in its slow progress. It is the
Mosque of Mohammad 'Alee; and there, by his direction, he was interred. The architecture
is of a mixed character, and not rich in decoration, though the building is very costly: its columns are of
alabaster, and its proportions have a certain grandeur; but the minarets, being very lofty, and peculiarly
Mender, produce an incongruous effect. To the right of it is the extensive ruined mosque of the Sultan
Mohammad Ibn-Kala-oon, with two minarets, and the base of a dome. It was built in the early part of the
fourteenth century. On the round tower, a little more to the right, may be traced a telegraph, the first of a
series extending to Alexandria. Several very large palaces are included in the Citadel, together with a
labyrinth of private dwellings.
The lower strata of the Mukattam range will interest the geologist, and many a powerful glass will be
used to magnify the base, which, in two semicircular projections, is happily brought into the right of this view.
The Gebel El-Mukattam commands the Citadel, as the latter commands Cairo. Between them runs a shallow-
valley, in which the most interesting objects are the cemetery in this view, and the picturesque houses and
enclosures attached to it. These were erected for the accommodation of mourners who periodically pay their
visits here to wail at the tombs of their relations and friends, especially on the occasions of the two Moham-
madan festivals—the greater and lesser 'Eed, called by the Turks the two Beirams,—when the cemeteries are
crowded to excess, and, as the houses are private property, tents are pitched for those who do not
possess them. Long trains of women and children are then seen visiting the burial-grounds, and the first
impression is that it is an interesting and affecting sight, and it is natural to listen, and to hush every sound
besides, that the melancholy and measured wail may be heard as it is borne upon the air. While the
periodical expression of sorrow does violence to established conviction, that the anguish of bereavement belongs
to no particular day, there is something in the belief that those Eastern mourners are on their way to perform
pious duties which fascinates the spectator; but, if they be followed to the houses, it will be seen that, with
very few exceptions, they have brought with them every luxury that their homes could spare—cushions,
mattresses, prayer-carpets, and good cheer of every description suitable to the climate. The rich are attended
by their slaves, and the poorer have begged and borrowed all that they require for the journey and the stay.
Especially on the occasions of the two festivals, the so-called sorrowing Muslims eat, drink, and enjoy them-
selves during three days and nights; and they delight in unusually large gatherings, for the reason, often
expressed, that the more numerous the party, the merrier are the groups assembled. The women generally
take a palm-branch to break up and place on the tomb, and some cakes or bread to distribute to the poor:
this is done for the sake of the dead, in whose register it is supposed to be put down by the recording angel.
ml
1