The structure is located next to the inner side of Bab al-Nasr, a monumental 11th-century fortified gate in Cairo's Fatimid-era walls. This location placed it at one of the main entrances to the city and at the beginning of one of the major streets leading towards its center.[2]
Sultan Qaytbay, one of the most prolific architectural patrons in Mamluk history, had this wikala built in 1481. While the Mamluk Empire was nearing its decline, Qaytbay oversaw a period of relative stability and prosperity, and commerce was still vigorous. Many similar wikalas were built along the city's major commercial zones, such as Qaytbay's earlier Sabil-kuttab-wikala built in 1477 near al-Azhar Mosque, the later wikala built by Sultan al-Ghuri, or the various khans and wikalas built around Khan al-Khalili.[2] Like other Mamluk buildings, this structure combines more than one function, and like some other wikalas, it was both a caravanserai for merchants and a rab' or residential complex with rented units.
The wikala has in modern times been used as a tenement (not unlike its original function), but has suffered in part as a result of this and has lost some of its elements.[3] It is under comprehensive restoration as of December 2015 by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. There are concerns regarding relocation of shops and workshops that occupy the front of the wikala.
Architecture
The structure follows a standard model of wikala buildings from the late Burji Mamluk period onwards, of which the best-preserved example today is the Wikala of Sultan al-Ghuri built in 1505 further south.[2] Its street facade is centered around a relatively monumental stone portal with stone vaulting and ornamentation typical of Qaytbay's time, including ablaq masonry and muqarnas carving. On either side, on the ground level, are spaces for shops, still present today. On the upper floors are the limited remains of mashrabiyyas (wooden screens) which characterized the living spaces, though much of the building's ruined upper façade appears to have been filled-in by more recent and more simple construction.
The main portal entrance opens to a passage covered by a Mamluk-stylegroin vault, which in turn leads to the main courtyard which dominates the interior floor plan.[4] Around this courtyard were rooms for storage on the first floor (for use by merchants and their animals), while the upper floors were occupied by living quarters. These upper floors functioned as a rab', a residential complex with apartments that were rented and whose revenues were then used for the upkeep of this building or possibly for other waqfs (charitable foundations) elsewhere. Each apartment unit was spread over two levels, with the upper level having rooms that looked onto a reception room (qa'a) on the level below, which in turn had a view onto the street outside.[3]
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Qaytbay wikala.
Wikala of Qaytbay at Discover Islamic Art (Museum With No Frontiers) (includes pictures and floor plans)
Wikala al-Sultan Qaytbay at Archnet (includes more pictures)
^ abcWilliams, Caroline (2018). Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide (7th ed.). Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
^ abRabbat, Nasser. "Rab'-Wakala of Sultan Qaytbay at Bab al-Nasr". Dome (MIT Libraries). Retrieved October 23, 2019.
^Torky, Tarek (2019). "Wikala (caravanserai) of Qaytbay". Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
Further reading
Meinecke, Michael. Islamic Cairo: architectural conservation and urban development of the historic centre : proceedings of a seminar, 39. London: Art and Archaeology Research Papers, 1980.
Meinecke, Michael. Die Mamlukische Architektur in Ägypten und Syrien (648/1250 bis 923/1517), I/198, II/420-421. Glückstadt: Verlag J. J. Augustin, 1992.
wikala, sultan, qaytbay, wakala, further, south, near, azhar, mosque, wikala, sabil, kuttab, sultan, qaytbay, wakala, sultan, qaytbay, among, other, variations, urban, caravanserai, wikala, wakala, apartment, complex, built, sultan, ashraf, nasr, qaitbay, 1481. For the wakala further south near Al Azhar Mosque see Wikala and Sabil Kuttab of Sultan Qaytbay The Wikala of Sultan Qaytbay or Wakala of Sultan Qaytbay among other variations is an urban caravanserai wikala or wakala and rab apartment complex built by Sultan al Ashraf Abu al Nasr Qaitbay in 1481 CE in Islamic Cairo the historic medieval district of Cairo Egypt 1 Wikala of Sultan Qaytbayوكالة قايتباي The street facade of the wakala in 2012 Alternative namesWakala Qaytbay Wikala Qaytbay Wakala Wikala of QaytbayGeneral informationTypeCaravanserai apartment complexArchitectural styleMamlukLocationGamaliyya Street next to Bab al Nasr Cairo EgyptCompleted1481 CERenovated2015 ongoing ClientSultan al Ashraf Qaytbay Contents 1 Historical context and location 2 Architecture 3 External links 4 References 5 Further readingHistorical context and location Edit The main portal pictured in 2012 The structure is located next to the inner side of Bab al Nasr a monumental 11th century fortified gate in Cairo s Fatimid era walls This location placed it at one of the main entrances to the city and at the beginning of one of the major streets leading towards its center 2 Sultan Qaytbay one of the most prolific architectural patrons in Mamluk history had this wikala built in 1481 While the Mamluk Empire was nearing its decline Qaytbay oversaw a period of relative stability and prosperity and commerce was still vigorous Many similar wikalas were built along the city s major commercial zones such as Qaytbay s earlier Sabil kuttab wikala built in 1477 near al Azhar Mosque the later wikala built by Sultan al Ghuri or the various khans and wikalas built around Khan al Khalili 2 Like other Mamluk buildings this structure combines more than one function and like some other wikalas it was both a caravanserai for merchants and a rab or residential complex with rented units The wikala has in modern times been used as a tenement not unlike its original function but has suffered in part as a result of this and has lost some of its elements 3 It is under comprehensive restoration as of December 2015 by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities There are concerns regarding relocation of shops and workshops that occupy the front of the wikala Architecture EditThe structure follows a standard model of wikala buildings from the late Burji Mamluk period onwards of which the best preserved example today is the Wikala of Sultan al Ghuri built in 1505 further south 2 Its street facade is centered around a relatively monumental stone portal with stone vaulting and ornamentation typical of Qaytbay s time including ablaq masonry and muqarnas carving On either side on the ground level are spaces for shops still present today On the upper floors are the limited remains of mashrabiyyas wooden screens which characterized the living spaces though much of the building s ruined upper facade appears to have been filled in by more recent and more simple construction The main portal entrance opens to a passage covered by a Mamluk style groin vault which in turn leads to the main courtyard which dominates the interior floor plan 4 Around this courtyard were rooms for storage on the first floor for use by merchants and their animals while the upper floors were occupied by living quarters These upper floors functioned as a rab a residential complex with apartments that were rented and whose revenues were then used for the upkeep of this building or possibly for other waqfs charitable foundations elsewhere Each apartment unit was spread over two levels with the upper level having rooms that looked onto a reception room qa a on the level below which in turn had a view onto the street outside 3 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Qaytbay wikala Wikala of Qaytbay at Discover Islamic Art Museum With No Frontiers includes pictures and floor plans Wikala al Sultan Qaytbay at Archnet includes more pictures References Edit Wakala al Sultan Qaytbay Archnet Retrieved 2019 10 23 a b c Williams Caroline 2018 Islamic Monuments in Cairo The Practical Guide 7th ed Cairo The American University in Cairo Press a b Rabbat Nasser Rab Wakala of Sultan Qaytbay at Bab al Nasr Dome MIT Libraries Retrieved October 23 2019 Torky Tarek 2019 Wikala caravanserai of Qaytbay Discover Islamic Art Museum With No Frontiers Retrieved October 23 2019 Further reading EditMeinecke Michael Islamic Cairo architectural conservation and urban development of the historic centre proceedings of a seminar 39 London Art and Archaeology Research Papers 1980 Meinecke Michael Die Mamlukische Architektur in Agypten und Syrien 648 1250 bis 923 1517 I 198 II 420 421 Gluckstadt Verlag J J Augustin 1992 Coordinates 30 03 15 N 31 15 53 E 30 0541 N 31 2646 E 30 0541 31 2646 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wikala of Sultan Qaytbay amp oldid 1096975627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
