THE MOSQUES OF EGYPT \ 5.THE MAMLUK PERIOD, 648 - 923H. (1250- 1517 A.D.) .   33- THE MOSQUE- MAUSOLEUM OF AL- ASHRAF BARSBAY (IN THE MAMLUK CEMETERY) 835H.(1432) . THIS MOSQUE, together with the mausoleum and remains of the khanqa (monastery) , attached to it, is in the Mamluk cemetery, on the road between the Khanqa of Barquq and the Mosque of Qayt- Bay. Al- Ashraf Barsbay chose this spot for the purpose of founding a mausoleum for himself, with a small mosque and a khanqa attached. On visiting this part of the desert, one is astonished at the sight of these beautiful domes, scattered about, of different shapes and varying decoration. It would therefore be most appropriate to call it the city of domes. The mosque is entered after mounting a staircase of two flights leading up to the entrance, above which stands a minaret, of simple design, which has taken the place of the original one. The entrance opens into a vestibule, to the left of which is an arched doorway leading into the mosque, which is formed of three aisles parallel to the qibla wall; at the end of the middle one is a door leading into the mausoleum. The mosque is covered by a wooden roof resting on two arcades, supported by marble columns. On the ceiling are traces of its original decoration, and on the band below it are inscriptions containing the name of the founder. The walls of the mosque and the mausoleum have a dado of coloured marble, inlaid with mother- of- pearl, in beautiful geometrical designs, of great delicacy and precision, and the floor is paved with coloured marble. A wooden minbar, of fine craftsmanship, stands next to the mihrab. This minbar was transferred here, after it had been repaired, from the ruined Mosque of al- Ghamri; it dates back to about 855H. (1451). Above the marble dado, in both the mosque and the mausoleum, are windows of pierced stucco, decorated with coloured glass. These are regarded as being among the finest to be found in the old mosques of Cairo. At the right end of the faade is the entrance, on the sides of which are inscribed the name and titles of the founder and the date of foundation, 835H. There are two tiers of windows set in shallow recesses, ending above with stalactites. The mausoleum is at the northern end of the faade; it is built of stone, and decorated externally with beautiful geometrical ornament. The remains of the khanqa faade are to the south of the entrance, in a line with the mosque faade. It bears bands of inscriptions on marble, containing the name of the founder and a list of the endowments, the revenue of which had been allotted for its repair and upkeep. Plates 114- 116.
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