SULTAN ACHRAF BARSBAY'S KHANQA
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Khanqah with period minaret, still dedicated to worship today, known for its marble floors and wall facings.
As a reminder, a khanqah was a place that originally housed religious scholars and then, over time, Sufis. It generally included a mosque and living quarters for the faithful, it is roughly the equivalent of our convents. The khanqah of the last of the great Mamluk sultans, Ashraf Barsbay, is a small decorative jewel. The wooden entrance door still has its period bronze wrought ironwork, but it is the two halls and the vestibule that deserve your full attention. This khanqah, still devoted to worship today, is known for its marble floors and wall facings. The floor will undoubtedly be covered with modern carpets for prayer, but the walls, especially those of the mausoleum, are an enchantment: alternating marbles of various colours with inclusions of mother-of-pearl plaques all along the square room. The mirhab (or prayer niche) of the mausoleum is exceptionally well preserved and its marble marquetry is a delight. In the main hall of the mosque, the minbar (wooden pulpit for preaching) is also a masterpiece of sculpture. The ivory star and floral inlays are intact and the motifs are remarkable. Similarly, if you raise your head a little, you will be seduced by the coffered ceiling with its bright colours. On the outside, only the base of the minaret is period (1431), while its upper part is an unfortunate addition.
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