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 This
Mosque, one of the finest monuments of
the 14th century, was built by Amir (Prince)
"Altunbugha al-Maridani" in 1340.
Al-Maridani mosque if located in "Bab-Al-Wazir"
street - a major road in the 14th century running from
"Bab Zuweila" to the
Citadel- in "Darb
al-Ahmar" district where many Mamluk complexes crowd
one next to another emphasizing the great architectural style
of their distinguished buildings.
Right: Exterior view of
the Minaret and main entrance of the mosque.
Amir Al-Maridani, who was one of Sultan
Al-Nasir Mohammed’s sons-in-law, built his mosque
following the traditional hypostyle plan very similar to Al-Nasir
Mohammed’s mosque on the Citadel.
It is recorded that the Sultan took an
active interest in the construction of the mosque, providing
building materials just as he did with Amir Aqsunqur,
another son-in-law. His mosque, the Aqsunqur or Blue Mosque,
is found further along the same street.
This mosque still retains much of its
original decorations. The French Committee restored it during
1895-1903.
 
Above Left: Ground floor plan of Al-Maridani
Mosque; Above Right: View of Bab-al-Wazir street.
Almost all available materials and
techniques available at the time were applied; including marble
incrustation, stucco, wooden and stone carving.
Like many other religious buildings, the
interior of Al-Maridani Mosque is shifted at a separate angle
than that of the street alignment by a stair-step arrangement
in order to orient it towards Mecca.
The exterior facades are decorated with
recessed panels crowned with stalactite hoods with two windows
on each panel. A Quranic inscription band runs along
the top.
 
Above Left and Right: Reconditioning
efforts at the Mosque
There are three entrances to the mosque.
The principal one is on the northern façade. It is set in a
plain vaulted recess, a monumental portal encrusted with Muqarnas
hood stones. (Stalactite frieze).
 
Above Left: Mashrabeyya screen
separating the main prayer hall;
Above Right: One of the Mosque domes
The interior of the mosque consists of a
central vast open courtyard surrounded by four arcaded halls
"riwaqs"; pointed stone arches supported with
marble columns. Seen above  those arches are a row of
alternating keel-arched niches and medallions, above each
medallion is a lozenge form. On the keystone of each arch, the
stones are framed with a continuous molding forming a loop.
In the middle of the arcaded courtyard is a
sort of beautifully wooden carved fountain in the form of a
domed, small pavilion like roof. The fountain was normally
designed to permit a number of worshippers to wash
simultaneously under running water before prayer.
A unique aspect found in this mosque is the
superb wooden Mashrabeyya screen separating the main
prayer hall Qibla that runs along the summit of the
courtyard facades.
It adds a striking unusual element to the
mosque nearly not at all seen in any of Cairo’s other
mosques.
 
Above Left: View of the main prayer hall
"Qibla"; Above Right: The Mihrab also found in the
Qibla.
The Qibla wall is lavishly
ornamented with fine stucco work and unusual tree motifs. The Mihrab,
(niche indicating the direction of the prayer oriented towards
the Qa’ba) a domed,  nine-bay maqsura is also
carefully decorated with mosaics and carved marble frames.
The Maqsura is originally a place
set apart to safe guard the life of the Imam who was
also the Caliph or governor.
Arches supported on eight red granite
pharonic columns define the Qibla dome. Reused church columns
with a variety of capitals support the lateral aisles.
The minaret found next to the main
entrance, shows new elements that set the style for later
designs. It is remarkable for it’s sculpted stalactites that
take you from one level to another.
The square shaft of the first stage has
become almost reduced serving only as a  transitional area
between the mosque and the minaret.
It is toped by a pavilion consisting of
eight slender columns surmounted by a bulb (little dome) on a Muqarnas
cornice, which is the final stage. This design is to become
the distinguishing mark of Mamluk minarets later on.
The best view of the mosque, its courtyard
and the minaret is on the rooftop where you can also easily
spot several other nearby monuments.
Al-Maridani Mosque is considered to be one
of the important mosques remaining from the Mamluk era (1250
AD - 1527AD) which left behind a rich heritage of
architectural buildings that combined religious, funerary,
educational and other functions into multifunctional
complexes.
References:
Archives
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