The Funerary Complex of Amir Qurqumas in Cairo, Egypt

The funerary complex of Amir Qurqumas, dating from 1506 to 1507, adjoins that of Inal north. Qurqumas was a Mamluk Sultan Qaytbay became emir in large Sutlan al-Ghuri. He was the commander in chief, or "Amir Kabir" at the time of his death in 1510, and said to possess strong anti-Ottoman sympathies. Therefore, he died before the Ottomans overthrew the Egyptian Mamluk regime between 1516 and 1517However, Ottomons apparently took revenge on him anyway, stripping the coating of marble on the walls of his madrasa (although according to another theory, it was in fact al-Ghouri who did this to incorporate pieces in its own building). Complex attached to the residential units were taken for military purposes, and places were supplied in powder form. They also built a brick factory poorly constructed in front of the building, which is and has been partially restored.Ibn Iyas has provided us with an obituary and a report on his funeral, which is historically an interesting account of this ceremony during the period mumluk: 

"The death of the Qurqumas Atabaki, grand marshal of the armies of Egypt, took place on Tuesday 23 (of Ramadan). Cairo was in mourning and his funeral procession was followed by a large crowd. Four Kadis (Judges) were there, and all officers, junior and senior, key civil servants and dignitaries. Arguably important person missing in the funeral procession. penitential almsgiving bread, dates and sheep have been made before, but when he came to the college of Sultan Hasan, the people seized them. Several places along the route, silver coins (silver) were thrown over the coffin. sadness and tears were generally because Qurqumas was both gracious and modest. When the procession arrived at the al-Sabil Mu'mini, Sultan (Ghuri) left the Hippodrome (below the Citadel) and came to the horse fountain. He dismounted and entered the oratory. When they placed the coffin in front of him, the sultan embraced death, and wept bitterly. After prayers, the Sultan helped carry the coffin of some not, then the police has taken over as they passed in front of the procession. They went to the mausoleum built by the deceased in the desert next to that of al-Ashraf Inal. was buried under the dome, God have mercy it.

Qurqumas was a splendid officer, which he enjoyed respect and consideration of all. A former Mamluk al-Ashraf Qaytbay he was freed by the monarch, then climbed the ladder of promotion, starting with the post of second squire. he had been a commander in 1000, commander of the Guard, and was appointed governor of the province of Aleppo during the reign Ashraf Janbalat, although he never held that position. He was imprisoned in the citadel of Damascus because of his penchant for the Amir Tumanbay Dawadar when it was proclaimed Sultan in Syria. When the order has been established that he was imprisoned with a number of other officers of the citadel. When Qansuh al-Ghuri came to power, he was released and was summoned to Cairo, where he served as Minister of War. Then he replaced Qayt Rajabi as grand marshal when the latter was imprisoned in Alexandria in 1505. It has been marshaled for six years and two months less than seven days. it was more than 60 years and had been sick for four days. He left four young boys and girls. His estate was valued at about 70,000 dinars, besides his personal property. He freed all his slaves, if Mamluks, black, or slave girls. "

This is just one of many buildings built in Ququmas Cemetery north of Cairo (part of Islamic Cairo). Other appendices included, kitchens, warehouses, homes, wells with saqiya, stables and golf ablutions.
 

The funerary complex, which included a (congregation) Friday mosque with services hudur Sufis, has a very similar to that of the Mosque of Sultan Qaytbay available. It also included a rab', or building a madrasa, a Sabil-Kuttab and private residential areas, in addition to the mausoleum (which was found to contain a skeleton corresponding Qurqumas the description). Teach complex does not appear to be specific to a particular rite.

As Qaytbay Sultan Mosque, the minaret is to the right of the gate, with the Sabil-Kuttab on the left side and the dome on the southeast corner of the adjoining prayer room Qa'a building plan. The dome has the same size and even the same scale as the mausoleum Qaytbay, but less complex geometric ornament. Here, the dome of the pellets was cut in the bottom and a zigzag pattern on the upper part.

Multiple views of the minaret A view of the complex

The minaret diamond engraved on the middle part and facet a zigzag pattern as that of the Mosque of Sultan Inal, but it is also surprisingly similar to Qaytbay. There are three curved supports that extend from the flagship minaret were used for hanging mosque lamps.

An interesting feature that has been preserved in this complex is the Qasr (palace), the term used to describe the act waqf room on the south side of the mausoleum. It was a room with large windows topped with grilled iron arched openings pierced stone overlooking the cemetery to the south, east and west. He can be reached through the main door into the yard or by an internal staircase on the other side of the mausoleum. At ground level provided the vaulted storage rooms and stables. The area above a courtyard open, a large reception room, a bedroom and a latrine. It was the practice of wealthy founders of these major religious foundations often tie residential structures of their buildings, especially if the structure has served Sufis as khanqah Shaykhu of, or was in the cemetery where the founder is based attend days parties and other occasions. Thus, the complex offers apartments Barsbay attached to it, and it still has a complex maq'ad, or loggia reception.

An interesting feature that has been preserved in this complex is the Qasr (palace), the term used to describe the act waqf room on the south side of the mausoleum. It was a room with large windows topped with grilled iron arched openings pierced stone overlooking the cemetery to the south, east and west. He can be reached through the main door into the yard or by an internal staircase on the other side of the mausoleum. At ground level provided the vaulted storage rooms and stables. The area above a courtyard open, a large reception room, a bedroom and a latrine. It was the practice of wealthy founders of these major religious foundations often tie residential structures of their buildings, especially if the structure has served Sufis as khanqah Shaykhu of, or was in the cemetery where the founder is based attend days parties and other occasions. Thus, the complex offers apartments Barsbay attached to it, and it still has a complex maq'ad, or loggia reception.

 Left: An overview of the complex, right: Close-in of the Dome

  

There were also apartment complexes called rab ', which occupied both sides of the road cemetery. These are duplex units built on two floors. One side has survived, with built on two floors and a toilet on both floors of each apartment residential units. Apparently, the other side is also somewhat intact. These cells are arranged along a corridor of four symmetrical pairs and each unit has its own spiral staircase. Each of these steps in the same way twist clockwise (for the descent). The idea was that we would have to step with his right foot, according to the hadith. The foundation act indicates that these residential units could accommodate up to eight staff members of the Foundation, and others, which means that people could be families with women and children. In other words, the foundation, like many of his time, worked as a mosque with multiple functions, as opposed to a khanqah with a monastic community.
 

This complex was restored by a Polish-Egyptian group for the restoration of Islamic monuments between 1983 and 1988, and currently, the complex is being developed by the Ministry of Culture. During the middle of the work of the residence of the founder was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1992. The complex was almost beyond repair when work began, and restaurateurs have taken an interesting approach. They will allow him to remain in a state of ruin with preservation, allowing left exposed layers to indicate the functional division of the building.