Notes from my Architecture in the City of Cairo class field trip to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt during my semester abroad at the American University in Cairo, originally taken on iPhone notes app:

Ibn Tulun Mosque

Ziyadid – space between walls

Souqs originally all along wall Steps reconstructed

Not original inscription
– caliphmaderestoration
– Probablywasmainentrance

Later work parallels

Minaret is not original
– windowisobstructed
– Materialisstonevsoriginalbrick

Different arch shapes, horseshoe is more contemporary

Kibleh direction

Reconstructed mamlouk dome

Spandles smooth transition from foreground to background, abstract, type c samara
Cursive inst ad of Kufic- tells us its later
Repurposed Byzantine Coptic columns

Probably akhsheidid additions

Designs much more prominent
Doesn’t need to be a niche to be a mihrab

Cairo influenced by many other cities, Iranian craftsmen (geometric patterns) came looking for work

علي الله حل ‘ٮك – Shia saying,

Not original, cursive inscription, najin additions

Going into the class, I had little to no knowledge about architecture, but I was eager to learn about the country I’d be spending half a year in. I’ll admit, I also took it for the frequent field trips I knew would be included.

The experiences on our site visits were unforgettable, including our first trip to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, the oldest surviving mosque in Cairo. As our professor explained the many changes the mosque underwent over time, pointing to it’s varying uses and patrons, I was blown away by the little details and contexts that seemed to share the building’s story now that I knew how to look. In my head, it became a series of codes and patterns through which I could interpret and understand some sort of meaning or value of this century’s-old architecture. I keep my eye out for details such as the ones pointed out in this class anytime I go to a new place and a particular built environment stands out to me. The lines and bricks can point to things like floods or gatherings that inform the history and culture of any place.