Khayer-Bek Complex

The complex was built by Prince Khayer-Bek in 908 AH / 1502 AD, who was one of the princes of Sultan Al-Ghuri. He played a major role in the political changes in Egypt and Syria, particularity when he cooperated with the Ottomans against his master the sultan Al Ghuri in the battle of Marj Dabek close to Aleppo. For this reason, Egyptians name him Khayn-bek (the traitor) after the incident. When the Ottomans conquered Egypt, they appointed him as an important official for five years until his death in 928 AH / 1521AD.

The interior view of the mausoleum dome of Khayer bek

Architecture

The Khayer-Bek complex consists of three main components: a madrassa (school) – a mausoleum (burial) – a sabil and its associated buildings. The main entrance of the madrassa is located right next to the sabil overlooking Bab Al Wazir. The madrassa consists of a rectangular vestibule divided into a central hall with two iwans, one on each side. In a central location of the qibla wall, there is a nicely t¨ curved mihrab. Next to the mihrab is the south western iwan from which opens a door that leads to the mausoleum. This mausoleum has another curved mihrab in front of which is a marble slab that marks the tomb of Khayer bek underneath it. As for the sabil, it is located on the left side of the main entrance. It is of the sabil types that have three windows and above the sabil is an Ottoman.

the interior view of Khayerbek Mosque

1050
people are checking in Khayer-Bek Complex

: Khayer-Bek Complex was among the first projects in Cairo undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The starting point in 2002 was the reconstruction of the missing upper section of the minaret that had suffered from the 1884 earthquake. Work then expanded to the entire complex and was completed at the end of 2006.

During restoration of the ceiling of the mosque

Restoration

During the restoration

Location:Cairo, Egypt
Coordinates:30.0355°N 31.2604°E
Built:908 AH / 1502 AD .
Governing body:Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Architectural Type:Complex (School-Mosque- Mausoleum-sabil)
Architectural style:Mamluk.

The interior view of Khayerbek’s mosque

The interior view of Khayerbek’s mausoleum

Aq Sunqur Mosque (Blue Mosque)

The Blue Mosque was constructed in 747 AH / 1347 AD by Prince Shams Al -Din Aq Sunqur, a Mamluk of al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun. It is located at an equal distance between Bab Zuweila and the Citadel of Saladin. The mosque was refurbished by the Ottoman prince Ibrahim Agha El-Mostahfzan, who conducted an important restoration in the mosque. The mosque is also a funerary complex containing the mausoleums of its founder Shams al-Din Aq sunqur, his sons, a number of children of the Bahri Mamluk Sultan an-Nasir Muhammad and that of its principal restorer, Ibrahim Agha al-Mustahfizan.