Madrasa of Sarghatmish

De cruciform **Madrasah of the Amir Sarghatmish**, dem build insyd 1356, dey lie to de northeast of de Mosque of Ibn Tulun, insyd Islamic Cairo. Dem fi see de building ein school, mosque, den mausoleum from Ibn Tulun ein spiral minaret, while ein entrance dey for Saliba Street. Dis structure dey include a madrasa, mosque, den mausoleum. Dem sanso dey refer de madrasa to as de **Mosque of Amir al-Sayf Sarghatmish**.

## History of Sarghatmish

Insyd 1356, Amir Sayf al-Din Sarghatmish al-Nasiri, chief of de corps of Mamluks, order de construction of dis madrasa. Na Sarghatmish begin ein career under de service of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun, wey he end am under de reign of Sultan Husan. According to de renowned Egyptian historian, al-Maqrizi, na Sarghatmish be handsome den zealous man wey go recite de Qur'an daily den go to legal discussions among Hanafi scholars.

Na he seek make he sponsor de construction of a madrasa wey dey teach in accordance plus de Hanafi school, one of de four Sunni schools of Islam. Na e cam turn a place of refuge give Hanafi students from Iran. Maqrizi dey note say Sarghatmish outwardly favor de foreign students to a point of excess. Na he personally go teach dem grammar den promote de students within de community. Na Sarghatmish ein influence insyd Egypt heighten during de reign of Sultan Husan. Wen na he cam back from Damascus, wer na he be plus de Mamluk troops, na dem make Sarghatmish vizier to ‘Alam al-Din ‘Abdallah ibn Zunbur, wey na he take all ein wealth widout de sultan ein knowledge. Na ein power continue dey increase during de early 14th century to de point wer he essentially rule Egypt for de behalf of Hasan. Eventually, however, na Sarghatmish fall into Hasan ein disgrace wey na dem throw am into jail wey dem murder am insyd 1358.

## Architecture

Adjacent to de Mosque of Ibn Tulun, de Madrasa of Sarghatmish be an example of Mamluk architectural innovation. De building ein four iwan layout dey in line plus de cruciform, anaa cross-shaped, madrasa plan. 

De building ein facade dey face de street to de northwest, den de domed mausoleum dey jet out from de south end of de facade den into de street thru a rectangular, cross-vaulted space. Dis madrasa dey show de tendency of Mamluk architecture to prefer dat de front of de building dey face de existing street, while for de same time dey orient de interior of de mosque toward de qibla. Insyd dis case, de facade be composed of de madrasa den mausoleum, wey de mosque dey locate behind de facade, furthest from de street. Dis choice to make de secular aspects of de building visible to de public, dey reflect de Mamluks dema tendency to value prestige over piety. De mausoleum sanso present insyd dis fashion in order make e attract de attention of pedestrians in hopes of make dem dey receive dema blessings.

From de outsyd of de Madrasa of Sarghatmish one fi see ein octagonal minaret for de eastern corner of de facade. Na dem elegantly construct am wey e get patterns of two-colored inlaid masonry.  De facade einself be 15.5m high wey e dey contain de main portal to de building ein interior. De portal be emphasized by an elevated section of de facade dem bell a pishtaq. Additionally, dem dey see pendative triangles under de portal ein semi-dome. De upper walls of de facade dey align plus small rectangular windows wich dey belong to de living quarters. De windows sanso appear for de rear facade as part of de students dema cells. Outsyd de building de dome over de mausoleum be clearly visible. Dem make de double-shelled, exotic dome out of bricks wey dey form an unusually high drum. 

Dis type of drum dey create a rounded profile wich be uncommon insyd Egyptian architecture. Instead e dey seems to be reflective of Persian architecture, wich fi be inspired by Sarghatmish ein celebration of ein foreign students, chaw komot from Iran. For addition, muqarnas, anaa three-dimensional decorative device dem use insyd Islamic den Persian architecture, be inset insyd dis area above de inscription band.

Insyd de Madrasa of Sarghatmish be de mosque. An architecturally intriguing spot within de mosque be de mihrab wall. De mihrab be a semi-circular niche insyd de wall wey dey signify de location of de qibla, anaa direction of de Kaaba. Dem decorate dis wall plus white marble panes plus medallions dem carve into dem. Sam carvings for de marble dey include arabesques, a mosque lamp, birds, den a pair of hands wey dey hold a stem. Dese carvings of actual figures, especially de bird den hands, be unique to Mamluk art den architecture. Mamluk art usually consist of ornate designs wey na ebe almost militant insyd dema intricacy; little of dema art include figures anaa life forms. Na de panels, however, dem remove am since, wey edey locate insyd de Islamic Museum. For de center of de Madrasa of Sarghatmish be a courtyard plus an octagonal fountain insyd de center. E be insyd de shape of a pavilion plus marble columns wey dey support a wooden dome. Dis type of dome be a trademark of Mamluk domes. From de courtyard, de student housing be visible. De cells go up three stories insyd de corners between de four iwans. Sam of dem dey overlook de courtyard, wey other dey overlook de street.

## Al-Maqrizi ein commentary

Na Al-Maqrizi be a Caireen historian. Ein main work be de *Khitat,* wich be a topographical description of Cairo ein history. Al-Maqrizi dey discuss de history den architecture of every building insyd de city insyd de *Khitat.*

Specifically, al-Maqrizi dey focus for de Madrasa of Sarghatmish ein origins by he dey describe de history of Sarghatmish einself, wich na dem explain above. Al-Maqrizi then dey go on make he explain de architectural details as well as de impact of de building insyd de community. Al-Maqrizi dey comment for de building einself by he dey say, "De madrasa cam turn one of de most marvelous den beautiful structures, sanso be one of de most delightful for de interior." E dey seem dat de Madrasa of Sarghatmish ein elegant construction affect people insyd Cairo so much dat na sam wrep poetry about de structure. Al-Maqrizi dey quote one poem,*"O Sarghitmish, may what you built hold no importance to you,for your lasting reward is now on account of the beauty of this building. The marble paving, like a bloom in beauty, held him in contempt,for to God should be attributed both bloom and builderspends time*."

## References


## External links

*Amir Sarghitmish Funerary Complex at Archnet.org
*Sarghatmish at Magrizi.com
*THE MOSQUE OF SARGHATMISH 757H.(1356)