090. Petersen, 172-175
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Mamluks by the "Nile" .... The buildings of this town are Mamluks made of iwad or clay like the walls of the gardens Term applied to the architecture of Greater Syria and of Damascus. This consists of building two thirds Egypt between 1250 and 1516. During this period the of a cubit (approximately 30 cm) in clay, then area was ruled by the Mamluk sultans based in leaving it to dry, then building above it in the Cairo. same way ... and so on until it is complete. The roofs are of wood and reeds and are generally The word 'mamluk' is an Arabic term for slave and domed or conical, in the form of cupolas of camel was applied to soldiers who, although non-Muslim backs, similar to the arch-shaped openings of vaults.' by birth, had been captured as children, converted Ibn Battuta's description of 1353 is not so full to Islam and trained to fight on behalf of their although he does indicate that he reached the city owners. The Mamluk sultanate had its origins in by boat and that it had a separate quarter for such slave soldiers, usually of Turkic or Mongol white merchants. He then describes the king's origin, who were used as guards by the Ayyubid palace in some detail, in particular the audience sultans and princes. Gradually the Mamluks in hall which may be the same as that built by Abu creased their power and by 1250 their position Ishaq al-Saheli a decade or two earlier. The audi was so strong that they were able to depose and ence hall is contained within the palace and consists appoint sultans. In 1260 one of these soldiers, of a square domed chamber with triple-arched Baybars, became the first Mamluk sultan starting windows in each side. The windows are filled with a tradition that was to endure for the next 250 wooden lattice work or grilles covered in silver years. and gold leaf (mashrabiyya?). lbn Khaldun probably The Mamluk sultanate can be divided into two describing the same building notes that it was periods; the first lasted from 1250 to 1382 and is 'solidly built and faced with plaster; because such known as the Bahri (sea-based) Mamluk period buildings are unknown in his [the sultan's) country'. because the dominant Mamluks were based on Obvious parallels for this building can be found in Roda island in the Nile delta. The second period the architecture of fourteenth-century North Africa from 1382 to 1517 is known as the Burji Mamluk and Spain (compare for example the Salon de! period because those in power came from the Trone in the Alhambra). Next to the palace was a Citadel in Cairo (burj is Arabic for tower). This large open area used as a mosque or place of period· is sometimes also called the Circassian prayer. period, as most of the sultans were of Circassian The location of Mali's capital is unknown al origin. though it may be the site of Niani-en-Sankrani in The Mamluks were able to seize and retain Guinea occupied between the sixth and seven power primarily through their superior military teenth centuries. Archaeological work at the site organization and training. This was demonstrated has revealed a large complex with a fortified royal in 1260 when Sultan Baybars was able to halt compound, several residential areas, a metal-work the westward advance of the Mongols at the ing centre and many cemeteries. A possible mosque battle of 'Ayn Jalut in Palestine. Similarly the site and Muslim cemetery have been identified Mamluks continued to fight the Crusaders who by near the royal complex which consists of a large this time were confined to the coast of Syria. The square courtyard (20 m per side) and a smaller main battles against the Crusaders took place under circular structure. The residential structures at the Sultan Qalaoun and his son Khalil, who in 1291 site consist of roundhouses built of mud with captured the cities of Acre, Tyre, Sidon, Beirut and stone foundations. Tripoli ending the Crusader presence in the See also: Djenne, Manding, West Africa Levant. Mamluk architecture reflects the confidence de Further reading: rived from its military successes and is one of the H. Haselberger, 'Architekturskizzen aus der Republic Mali most distinctive Islamic styles of building. The Ergebnisse der DIAFE 190709 des Frobenius Institut', main source for Mamluk architecture was the build International Archives of Ethnography 50(1): 244-80, ings of the Ayyubids and in some senses the 1966. ). Hunwick, The mid-fourteenth-century capital of Mali', Mamluk style is simply a development of that of Journal of African History 14(2): 195-206, 1973. the Ayyubids. However, the Mamluks were also 172 Mamluks influenced by other styles, in particular Italian and (alternating layers of different colours, or shades of Andalusian architecture. masonry); this was used in Syria in Ayyubid times As with Ayyubid architecture there is a signifi but is not found in Egypt until 1300 (it is possible cant difference between Syrian and Egyptian that this idea may have Italian origins). Mashrabi ~ Mamluk architecture, which can be explained by yya screens of turned wood were also used for the availability of materials and differing traditions interiors. of building. In Egypt brick remained an important material of construction up until the fifteenth cen Structural Elements tury, whereas in Syria it was seldom used. Other differences can be detected in decorative details In addition to surface decoration many structural such as the type of arch used in muqarnas mould elements were developed into decorative features. ings (in Egypt they are angular points whereas in Openings, in particular doorways, became subjects Syria they have a rounded profile). Another factor for elaboration and frequently consisted of a monu which created different styles was Cairo's position mental frame or panel and a recessed niche for the as capital city which meant that its buildings tended door covered with a muqarnas vault. Another to be grander and more highly decorated than example of such elaboration is the joggled voussoir those of Syria. Jerusalem is interesting in this where the stones of an arch were cut so as to respect as its position midway between Damascus interlock and provide increased strength to the and Cairo made it susceptible to influences from arch. Usually the effect is enhanced by using ablaq both Syria and Egypt. techniques. Sometimes this becomes purely surface There are, however, several features which are decoration when the actual voussoirs are not inter characteristic of buildings throughout the area cut and there is simply an interlocking fa~ade. under Mamluk control. These can be considered Another decorative effect created with openings under three headings: surface decoration, layout was the horsehoe arch which was introduced and planning, and structural elements. during this period. Buildings were generally roofed with cross vaults although sometimes plain barrel vaults were Surface Decoration used. In Jerusalem an elaborate form of vault called The most characteristic feature of Mamluk architec the folded cross vault was developed from Ayyu ture (and art in general) is the use of heraldic bid military architecture. This is basically a cross blazons. These are usually round discs divided into vault with a large circular hole in the roof over three fields with various emblems (e.g. cup, horn, which a wooden clerestory or other feature could disc, etc.) set into the middle. Each sultan and be added. Domes were common in buildings of group of Mamluks had their own blazon which this period and could be made from a variety of would be applied to any objects belonging to the materials including baked brick, wood and stone. group including buildings. As well as providing Wooden domes were often used in houses and dating evidence these blazons give a useful insight palaces because they were lighter and easier to into how the Mamluk regime operated. Another build, although mausoleums tended to be covered related decoration employed on buildings was with brick or stone domes. In fourteenth-century monumental calligraphy in Naskhi script, this Cairo, masonry domes carved with arabesque de would usually state the name and rank of a build signs became a fashionable method of covering ing's founder. tombs. The usual surface for both blazons and calligra phy is ashlar masonry, although plaster and wood Layout and Planning are also sometimes used. Other decorative motifs employed are geometric and floral patterns which The growth of cities during the Mamluk period are often interlaced. Ceramic tile decoration is rare, meant that most types of building, even palaces, although coloured glass mosaics and inlaid marble were located within the fabric of a city. The re are occasionally used for mihrabs and other places sult of this was that buildings were often built of special importance. One decorative feature to on an irregular-shaped plot because of the short spread from Syria to Egypt is the use of ablaq age of space. Many Mamluk buildings which 173 Mamluks Doorway of Serai al-Takiyya. Mamluk period, Jerusalem (after Burgoyne) seem to be square and symmetrical are built on fai;:ade. This was overcome by use of recessed irregular ground plans. The architects were able to entrances, domes, and projecting corners which make the buildings appear square by a variety of have a cumulative effect of a staggered fai;:ade techniques such as horizontal lines (ablaq) and which can be viewed from the side. controlled access (passageways) which distort per The military nature of Mamluk rule affected spective. A related problem was that narrow streets society in many ways although it did not have tend to detract from the visual impact of a building much effect on architecture.