DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2872#0005
CAIRO, FROM THE CITADEL,
WITH THE MOSQUE OF THE SULTAN HASAN.
F all the varied and interesting scenes that Cairo and its environs present, none, by common
consent, is so striking as that which is beheld from the Citadel; and of that scene the
most remarkable portion is comprised in the view now before ns. This view, however,
does not include any part of what originally constituted the city. Comprehensive as it is,
it exhibits only what was, for some centuries after the foundation of the city, a tract
occupied by suburbs and gardens.
1 # i The principal object is the great Mosque of the Sultan Hasan. Between this and the buildings
', in the foreground, upon the roofs and numerous ventilators of which we look down, is a portion of the
jpon tne roots ana numerous ventilators ot wnicn we look clown, is a po
extensive open space called " The Itumeyleh," in which a kind of market is being held. Along the
front of the Mosque extends a row of mean shops; and behind it is a large modern Turkish palace. At
the right extremity of the view is the Mosque of the Emeer Akh6r, the subject of a view already described.
A little nearer to the Mosque of the Sultan Hasan, is a smaller Mosque, called the " Mahmoodeeyeh;" and,
near to this, between two round-fronted towers, is the great gate of the Citadel, within which occurred the
horrible massacre of the Memlooks, the foulest act of Mohammad 'Alee's rule. To mention the inferior objects
in this view would be to give a tedious catalogue of names. In the extreme distance, separated from the city
by a richly-cultivated plain, through which flows the Nile, is seen a portion of the great Lybian Desert,
stretching along the whole view, slightly elevated above the plain which it bounds.
The Mosque of the Sultan Hasan is a very noble pile, towering above all the other edifices of Cairo.
The disparity of its two minarets is, however, a drawback to its complete beauty. The greater is three hundred
feet in height. The entrance-porch, which is one of its finest features, is on the north-east side. Within,
at the end of a zigzag passage, is a square hypssthral court, with a tank in the centre, and, near this, a
reservoir with spouts, for the purposes of ablution; each is shaded by a cupola. There are four smaller
halls, one on each of the four sides of the great hall or court; each is an estrade with an arched roof
and open front. The principal place of worship is the estrade opposite the entrance, and this is larger than
the others, the vault being seventy feet wide. Numerous very beautiful glass lamps, and two bronze lanterns,
are suspended from its vault, and the lower part of the end-wall is lined with coloured marbles. All the
four vaults, or arched roofs, are constructed of brick, and plastered. Beyond the principal estrade is the
saloon, crowned by the great dome, and in tire centre of this is the tomb of the founder, the Sultan Hasan.
It is to be lamented that the building, in many parts, is much dilapidated ; but the decorations, in detail,
and in general effect, are, to a great extent, perfect, and exquisitely beautiful.
It is asserted by El-Makreezee that the Mosque was built in the space of three years, but we find that
though the Sultan commenced it in the year of the Flight 757, three of four minarets were completed in the
year 762. We must, therefore, conclude that the body of the building was finished in three years, and this, it
will be allowed, was a very short time for the erection of so great a structure. El-Makreezee gives an
interesting account of the expenses and casualties of the years of its progress, and of the short and chequered
career of its youthful founder; and of both we give an abstract. He asserts that the daily expenses of the
building were 20,000 dirhems, about 1000 mithkals of gold, or about £500 of our money. The Sultan
WITH THE MOSQUE OF THE SULTAN HASAN.
F all the varied and interesting scenes that Cairo and its environs present, none, by common
consent, is so striking as that which is beheld from the Citadel; and of that scene the
most remarkable portion is comprised in the view now before ns. This view, however,
does not include any part of what originally constituted the city. Comprehensive as it is,
it exhibits only what was, for some centuries after the foundation of the city, a tract
occupied by suburbs and gardens.
1 # i The principal object is the great Mosque of the Sultan Hasan. Between this and the buildings
', in the foreground, upon the roofs and numerous ventilators of which we look down, is a portion of the
jpon tne roots ana numerous ventilators ot wnicn we look clown, is a po
extensive open space called " The Itumeyleh," in which a kind of market is being held. Along the
front of the Mosque extends a row of mean shops; and behind it is a large modern Turkish palace. At
the right extremity of the view is the Mosque of the Emeer Akh6r, the subject of a view already described.
A little nearer to the Mosque of the Sultan Hasan, is a smaller Mosque, called the " Mahmoodeeyeh;" and,
near to this, between two round-fronted towers, is the great gate of the Citadel, within which occurred the
horrible massacre of the Memlooks, the foulest act of Mohammad 'Alee's rule. To mention the inferior objects
in this view would be to give a tedious catalogue of names. In the extreme distance, separated from the city
by a richly-cultivated plain, through which flows the Nile, is seen a portion of the great Lybian Desert,
stretching along the whole view, slightly elevated above the plain which it bounds.
The Mosque of the Sultan Hasan is a very noble pile, towering above all the other edifices of Cairo.
The disparity of its two minarets is, however, a drawback to its complete beauty. The greater is three hundred
feet in height. The entrance-porch, which is one of its finest features, is on the north-east side. Within,
at the end of a zigzag passage, is a square hypssthral court, with a tank in the centre, and, near this, a
reservoir with spouts, for the purposes of ablution; each is shaded by a cupola. There are four smaller
halls, one on each of the four sides of the great hall or court; each is an estrade with an arched roof
and open front. The principal place of worship is the estrade opposite the entrance, and this is larger than
the others, the vault being seventy feet wide. Numerous very beautiful glass lamps, and two bronze lanterns,
are suspended from its vault, and the lower part of the end-wall is lined with coloured marbles. All the
four vaults, or arched roofs, are constructed of brick, and plastered. Beyond the principal estrade is the
saloon, crowned by the great dome, and in tire centre of this is the tomb of the founder, the Sultan Hasan.
It is to be lamented that the building, in many parts, is much dilapidated ; but the decorations, in detail,
and in general effect, are, to a great extent, perfect, and exquisitely beautiful.
It is asserted by El-Makreezee that the Mosque was built in the space of three years, but we find that
though the Sultan commenced it in the year of the Flight 757, three of four minarets were completed in the
year 762. We must, therefore, conclude that the body of the building was finished in three years, and this, it
will be allowed, was a very short time for the erection of so great a structure. El-Makreezee gives an
interesting account of the expenses and casualties of the years of its progress, and of the short and chequered
career of its youthful founder; and of both we give an abstract. He asserts that the daily expenses of the
building were 20,000 dirhems, about 1000 mithkals of gold, or about £500 of our money. The Sultan