THE MOSQUES OF EGYPT \ 5.THE MAMLUK PERIOD, 648 - 923H. (1250- 1517 A.D.) .   40- THE FIDAWIYA MAUSOLEUM (AT 'ABBASIYA) 884- 886H.(1479- 1481) . THIS MAUSOLEUM is situated at 'Abbasiya. It was founded by the Amir Yashbak min- Mahdi, one of the Circassian Mamluks. He was originally a Mamluk of az- Zahir Abu Sa'id Jaqmaq and had occupied several posts during his reign. He was appointed "Master of the Hunt" during the reign of az- Zahir Khoshqadam. During the reign of Qayt- Bay, he attained the highest rank, being appointed Dawadar, besides being charged with the Ministry and Ustadariya (Master of the Household) , thus holding the greatest authority and power in the state. He was keen on science and the arts and fond of architecture and town planning. He repaired and widened roads and improved the faades overlooking them. The area north of the present Husayniya District was once crowded with tombs and houses. He had them demolished. In their place, were erected several establishments, none of which has remained except the dome we are now discussing, which was built in 884H. (1479/80). Amir Yashbak died in 885H. (1480) , just before the interior was completed. In this connection Ibn Iyas says that al- Ashraf Qayt- Bay visited the dome in 886H. (1481) and ordered Amir Taghri Bardi to complete it. The exterior of the mausoleum is simple. The square base is built of stone, with an entrance in the southern faade. The dome is built of brick and bears no decoration except one tier of arched windows in its drum. The entrance is reached by a flight of marble steps; it is covered by beautiful stalactites, below which are inscribed a Qur'anic verse, the name of Qayt- Bay and some prayers in his favour. The name of Qayt- Bay appears again in a band of inscription to right and left of the entrance. The interior is a vast square measuring 14.30 m. a side, covered by the dome. The most interesting feature here is the zone of transition; this consists of a squinch lined with stalactites and resting on two hoods. Below the latter are two windows. This arrangements is completely different from that contemporary domes, where the zone of transition is formed of several tiers of stalactites. Above the zone of transition is a band of inscription containing some Qur'anic verses and prayers in favour of al- Ashraf Qayt- Bay, and ends with the date 884H., being that on which he accomplished the Pilgrimage. The dome and zone of transition are covered with coloured stucco ornament. Under this great chamber is lower floor consisting of three rectangular rooms, covered with vaults; on the northern side is a staircase leading up to the domed chamber. The Department for the Preservation of Arab Monuments, at the end of the 19th. century, cleared the ground around this dome and restored it. In 1907 they tansferred to it the small minbar of the Mosque of Katim as- Sirr at Shari' Darb al- Gamamiz, after having repaired it. This dome is known by the name "al- Fidawiya" and not by the name of the founder. There is no clear explanation as to the cause of this appellation. It may be stated, however, that "Fidawiya" is a rite, the followers of which were renowned for deeds of martyrdom and sacrifice. They received great attention from the Kings of Egypt. It is probable, therefore, that this name was given to the mausoleum because they used to dwell in the district around it, which was at that time on the outskirts of Cairo. Plates 130- 132.
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