The site we visited was a old 13th century fort that housed the leaders of Egypt for 700 years. It was only in 1874 that the Aberdeen Palace, a more modern palace, was built. The citadel was the most impressive and ambitious fortification of its time. Successive rulers would build newer palaces and demolish older buildings over the centuries. Mohamad Ali was the military commander of the Albanian forces that joined the Ottomans in displacing the Napoleon French troops from Egypt. He was the de facto ruler of Egypt from 1805 to 1848 and is considered the creator of modern Egypt. He modernized many Egyptian institutions in the military, cultural and social spheres. He also built the Mosque Mohamad Ali which is also located at the site of the Citadel. It is only one of 60.000 mosques in the city of Cairo but is certainly a great one.
The round parts are newer, from the 1800's
Mohamad Ali put the mint and the treasury here within the citadel
Lions!
An older mosque is right next door. The onion shaped minarets are pre-Ottoman, from 12th to 13th century CE
Ottoman era minarets are very thin
The mosque
Delightful grates on the windows
Alabaster was used for the lower level
It was intended to be used for the entire mosque but Mohamad Ali died before the mosque was finished and his heirs decided the extra expense was not worth it
Along the interior edges
They are a bit dirty
Wow, amazing what a bit of scrubbing will do
Please place all mosques behind the fortified wall.
All older mosques have water fountains that everyone could use for ritual washing. Before every household had running water, the water had to be supplied to the worshipers
Inside looking at the doors
King Louis Philippe of France sent a brass clock tower for the mosque. Egypt reciprocated with an obelisk from Luxor. The clock never did work so it has been 11:10 for centuries.
The mint and treasury
Great entryway gate to the mosque
It is like a light show in there
Gold everywhere
A huge chandelier, it used to be oil lamps
This is the direction of Mecca
Looking up to the dome
Here is where Mohamad Ali was buried
Nice green lighting inside
The very detailed doors
Nature's spotlight
365 oil lamps are strung all around the interior
Adding salt to the oil would decrease the soot
Another spotlight window
A third mosque in close close proximity
The time is different on this side of the clock, it is 10:40 on this part of the clock
This is a portrait of Mohamad Ali
Driving off to the Egyptian Museum
The famous Tahrir Square, tahrir means liberation in Arabic
