Architectural treasure: The oldest Mosque of Egypt | SLICE
Summary
TLDRThe Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo, built in the 9th century by the Abbasid governor Ibn Tulun, is a masterpiece of Abbasid architecture. Its simple, unadorned design and use of pointed arches mark a significant departure from the Umayyad style. The mosque also features intricate stucco decorations and unique windows, showcasing the artistic evolution of Islamic art during the Abbasid era.
Takeaways
- 🏛 The Ibn Tulun Mosque is a significant architectural achievement from the Abbasid period, showcasing a departure from the Umayyad style with its simplicity and lack of ostentatious decoration.
- 👑 Ibn Tulun, the mosque's commissioner, was an ambitious governor sent by the Caliph to Cairo and was the son of a slave from Samarra, Iraq, reflecting his rise to prominence.
- 🏙️ Upon his arrival in Cairo in 868, Ibn Tulun's vision included the creation of a new city centered around a mosque, which became the Ibn Tulun Mosque.
- 🏗️ The mosque's design was revolutionary, with the directive to avoid using columns and instead utilizing robust piers to support pointed arches, marking a significant innovation in Islamic architecture.
- 🕌 The mosque features a large square courtyard, making it the largest in Egypt, and is devoid of colorful decorations, tiles, or paintings, emphasizing its pure and sober architectural style.
- 🌐 The mosque's design includes 128 unique windows, each different from the others, showcasing intricate geometric shapes and the use of stucco for decoration, a characteristic of Abbasid art.
- 🎨 The use of stucco in the mosque's decoration is a nod to the artistic heritage of the region, with Samarra and Mesopotamia being famous for their stucco work.
- 🌿 The mosque represents a break from the Byzantine-influenced Umayyad art, which was characterized by elaborate mosaics, in favor of a more abstract and minimalist approach.
- 🕊️ The mosque's design encourages movement within its space, with the positioning of windows and arches creating a dynamic experience for those who enter, reflecting the art of movement in architecture.
- 📜 The script also mentions the tomb of Ibn Tulun, which is adorned with stucco decorations and verses from the Quran, highlighting the Abbasid period's emphasis on ornamental richness in mausoleums.
- 🕉️ The mosque and its associated structures serve as a testament to the Abbasid dynasty's influence and the architectural and artistic innovations of the period.
Q & A
In what century was the Ibn Tulun Mosque built?
-The Ibn Tulun Mosque was built in the 9th century.
Who was the founder of the Ibn Tulun Mosque?
-Ibn Tulun, a young ambitious governor sent by the Abbasid Caliph, founded the mosque.
What architectural style is the Ibn Tulun Mosque considered to represent?
-The Ibn Tulun Mosque is considered a jewel of Abbasid architecture and represents a sober and austere architectural style.
How does the Ibn Tulun Mosque differ from Umayyad architecture?
-The Ibn Tulun Mosque differs from Umayyad architecture in its simplicity and lack of flamboyance, with no use of colors, tiles, or paintings in its decoration.
What was the significance of the helical minaret in the design of the Ibn Tulun Mosque?
-The helical minaret was a unique feature of the mosque in Samarra, Ibn Tulun's hometown, and its inclusion in the design of the Ibn Tulun Mosque marked the Abbasid presence in Egypt.
What was the innovative architectural feature introduced by Ibn Tulun for his mosque?
-Ibn Tulun introduced the use of robust piers supporting pointed arches, which was the first instance of pointed arches in Egypt and possibly the oldest in architectural history.
What was the material primarily used in the construction of the Ibn Tulun Mosque?
-The primary material used in the construction of the Ibn Tulun Mosque was firebrick, plastered over for a simple and pure appearance.
How did the Abbasids distinguish their Islamic art from the Umayyads?
-The Abbasids distinguished their Islamic art by moving away from the elaborate mosaics and Byzantine style of the Umayyads and adopting a more abstract and sober approach.
What technique was used for the decorative elements of the Ibn Tulun Mosque?
-Stucco, a mixture of plaster, glue, pulverized marble, slate, lime, chalk, and pigments, was used for the decorative elements of the mosque, allowing for intricate designs and a stone-like appearance.
What is the significance of the 128 windows in the Ibn Tulun Mosque?
-The 128 windows in the mosque are all different and demonstrate incredible finesse in their design, alternating geometric shapes carved into the stucco, contributing to the mosque's unique artistic signature.
Where is Ibn Tulun's tomb located, and what is its historical significance?
-Ibn Tulun's tomb is located in the city's great cemetery, historically known as the Tomb of the Opposites. It features stucco decorations and verses from the Quran, reflecting the ornamental richness characteristic of Abbasid-era mausoleums.
Outlines
🏛️ The Ibn Tulun Mosque: Abbasid Architectural Innovation
The first paragraph introduces the historical context of the 9th century, where the Abbasids ruled the Muslim world alongside the Umayyads. It tells the story of Ibn Tulun, a young and ambitious governor sent by the Caliph to Cairo to build a significant monument. The Ibn Tulun Mosque is highlighted as the oldest and largest mosque in Egypt, characterized by its simple and pure architecture, a departure from the Umayyad's flamboyant style. The mosque's construction materials and design, including the absence of columns and the use of pointed arches, are emphasized. This architectural approach was a new direction in Islamic art, inspired by the Iraqi desert and a break from the Byzantine-influenced Umayyad art.
🎨 Artistic Excellence of Abbasid Stucco Work
The second paragraph delves into the artistic details of the mosque, focusing on the unique stucco work that is a hallmark of Abbasid art. It describes the 128 windows, each different, and the geometric shapes carved into the plaster, which is a mixture of various materials creating a stone-like appearance. The paragraph also discusses the craftsmanship involved in creating the delicate designs and the movement within the mosque, which is considered the essence of architecture. The daily prayers at the mosque and the historical significance of the building during the Abbasid period are also mentioned.
⚰️ The Legacy of Ibn Tulun and Abbasid Mausoleums
The final paragraph discusses the legacy of Ibn Tulun, who, despite his achievements, is relatively unknown today. It describes his mausoleum, known as the Tomb of the Opposites, and its stucco decorations and Quranic verses. The paragraph also touches on the Abbasid tradition of creating richly ornamented cemeteries and mausoleums, which was a departure from previous practices. The guardian's tradition of placing a cup of water on each tomb as a symbol of eternal life concludes the narrative, emphasizing the enduring impact of the Abbasids on Islamic art and architecture.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ibn Tulun
💡Abbasid Architecture
💡Umayyad
💡Ibn Tulun Mosque
💡Pointed Arches
💡Sobriety in Decoration
💡Stucco
💡Samara
💡Mausoleum
💡Islamic Art
Highlights
Ibn Tulun, a young ambitious governor, was sent by the caliph to Cairo in the 9th century to build a remarkable monument.
The Ibn Tulun Mosque is considered a jewel of Abbasid architecture and the oldest mosque in Cairo.
The mosque features a sober, architectural style, breaking from the flamboyance of the Umayyad period.
It has the largest square courtyard in Egypt, showcasing a simple, unadorned architecture.
The mosque is built using simple materials like firebrick plastered over, with no colorful decorations or tiles.
Ibn Tulun, the commissioner, was the son of a slave from Samarra, Iraq.
Upon arriving in Cairo in 868, Ibn Tulun envisioned a new city centered around a mosque.
He demanded a new architectural style from his architects, inspired by the mosque in his hometown of Samarra.
Ibn Tulun insisted on no columns being used in the mosque, pioneering the use of robust piers and pointed arches.
The mosque features the first pointed arch in Egypt and possibly the oldest in architectural history.
Ibn Tulun imposed a new conception of Islamic art, favoring sobriety and breaking away from Umayyad art's elaborate mosaics.
The Abbasids introduced abstract art, moving away from Byzantine-influenced mosaics.
The mosque has 128 unique windows, showcasing incredible finesse in geometric shapes and stucco carving.
Stucco, a mixture of plaster and other materials, became a characteristic artistic signature of Abbasid art.
The decorations are delicate and elegant, resembling lace with interlacing circles and leaves.
The windows are strategically placed to create a sense of constant movement within the building.
Architecture is an art of movement, not static structures, as it is experienced through living within the building.
Ibn Tulun's mausoleum, historically known as the Tomb of the Opposites, features stucco decorations and Quranic verses.
The Abbasid period saw the creation of richly ornamented cemeteries and mausoleum domes, highlighting beauty and magnificence.
Ancient Egyptian tradition of placing a cup of water on tombs signifies eternal life.
Transcripts
in the 9th century
while the other great dynasty the
abbasids controlled the muslim world
ibn tulan a young ambitious governor was
sent by the caliph to the city of cairo
he will build a remarkable monument
[Music]
there
the ibn chulan mosque is considered a
jewel of abbasid architecture
of all the mosques in cairo it is the
oldest
it is the affirmation of a sober bear
architectural style
a real break from the flamboyance of the
umayyad
with this huge square courtyard it is
also the largest in egypt
the most important thing about this
mosque is it's
simple architecture
architecture that is that's not flashy
it's not glitzy
it's an architecture that does not have
colors in its decoration no tiles
no paintings it's all very pure
[Music]
and it's built by very simple material
it's built off by
firebrick that was plastered over
and that's it
a remarkable sobriety as seen in the
foundation of ablutions
a simple black marble placed in the
middle of the vast courtyard
surmounted by a dome devoid of artifices
[Music]
ibn tulam the commissioner of this
mosque is the son of a slave from samara
in iraq
[Music]
when he arrived in cairo in the year 868
one of his first visionary decisions was
to create
a new city whose heart would be a mosque
[Music]
he demands a new style from his
architects but he wants an element that
echoes the mosque of his hometown
samara with its unique minaret of
helical shape points
[Music]
ibn tulan had a copy erected attached to
his mosque
as the mark of the abbasid presence in
egypt
he launched projects that heralded a
major breakthrough in muslim
architecture
when ibn wanted to build his mosque
he told the architects no columns should
be used in my muscle
and the architects told him why go
through all this
difficulty it's easy we go to any
ancient monument
we go to churches we go to synagogues
old
that were destroyed probably we get the
columns and we've been
like the previous mosque were built this
way
he said no no i don't want any of that i
don't want you to go and destroy
ancient monuments or churches or
synagogues or any of that
i want you to build me this type of
peer that i want
these robust piers support arches
and these are pointed arches
it's the first pointed arch that we have
in egypt
and probably the oldest pointed arch
in the history of architecture
is right here the archers themselves
are very graceful in his desire to
distinguish himself from his
predecessors
ibn tulan imposed a new conception of
islamic art
inspired by the iraqi deserts in which
he spent his childhood
he highlights this heritage favoring the
sobriety of the decoration
this meant a complete breakaway from
umayyad art
which was based on elaborate mosaics in
the byzantine style
the mosque of ibn tulun is different
from what was before
like in the dome of the rock and in
cordova
there was big huge
areas that are made of mosaics
but it is vases and flowers
and trees and pearls
and jewelry the revolution
was by the abbasids our bassets came
over
and they obliterated everything that was
byzantine
and in order to
imply a new character for islamic art
they went into the abstract
[Music]
the 128 windows of the mosque pierced in
the thickness of the walls
are all different
a work of incredible finesse that
alternates the geometric shapes carved
into the stucco
a type of plaster the raw material for
all the cladding of the mosque
[Music]
a mixture of plaster glue pulverized
marble
slate lime chalk and pigments all bonded
by water
stucco allows the creation of thick
coatings with an aspect and hardness of
the stone
while leaving the craftsmen the freedom
to fashion their creations by hand
inherited from the greeks and romans
stucco is now a characteristic artistic
signature of abbasid art
the toulon came from samara
and there everything was made of
stucco almost everything
the whole of mesopotamia is famous for
stuck
work yeah i don't think there are
workers now
who can do this work anymore
the decorations are very elegant
it's like for me it's like
lace it's very delicate
designs how they put the designs
together
interlacing circles with the leaves
yeah i find it very
very chic
[Music]
we find that the windows are never
centered
with any arch so we want to center the
windows
unconsciously and once you center one
window you're seeing the second
so we move within the building until we
center without knowing
and once you center the second you are
centering the third and fourth and then
it becomes endless
in the movement within the building and
once you
reach that point of entering a building
that you are constantly moving in it
it shows ultimate degree of architecture
because architecture in itself is the
sense it's the art of movement
not the art of static
structures because you are living within
the building
[Music]
now
during the five daily prayers the ibn
tulan mosque comes out of its silence
for a moment
[Music]
facing the merib which points to mecca
the faithful men of the neighborhood
arrived to worship
[Music]
at the height of the greatness that he
returned to egypt under his mandate as
governor
we can imagine eben tulan here facing
this merib
with a large crowd behind him
yet today few remember ibn
he would rest in anonymity a few steps
from the mosque
in the middle of the city's great
cemetery in this mausoleum
unknown and ignored for centuries
historically known as the tomb of the
opposites
[Music]
on the walls stucco decorations and
verses from the koran
[Music]
on the ground two graves one large and
one small
it is in the smaller of the two that the
remains of the great leader would be
found
before the abbasids the cemeteries and
the domes of the mausoleums were not
ornamentally rich
many new cemeteries were created after
the advent of the abbasids
these were characterized by their
ornamental richness with plants
stucco and calligraphy
all this highlighted the beauty and
magnificence of these mausoleum domes
following an ancient egyptian tradition
as a sign of eternal life
the guardian of the cemetery places a
cup of water on each tomb
men and dynasties disappear leaving only
traces of their passages engraved in
[Music]
stone
you
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