This Mosque was built in AD.970, It is one of the best architectural design in Egypt. It's Fatimid style, (Islamic Shi'ite dynasty that ruled Egypt AD 969-1171) The original design of Al-Azhar Mosque consisted of a court surrounded by three aisles. The largest aisle is the prayer direction one. A transept, which intersects the prayer direction aisle, has a ceiling higher than that of the mosque. A dome crowns the intersection of the passage with the mihrab colonnade.
The main entrance of the mosque was in the middle of the northwest wall. A colonnade was added to the court. A dome was added at the entrance of the passage intersecting the court. The additions took place at the end of the Fatimid era. Thereafter, additional structures were added in different eras.
There is no information about the original minaret or about its location. Also the present mihrab is not the original one. However, the original mihrab was discovered in AD 1934.
Two domes are found at the two corners of the prayer direction aisle. One of the domes is on the right corner to the right of the mihrab and the pulpit. Facing them is another dome in the left corner.
Dear Ameed, Yes This shot directly from the mosque, only the part you can see in the image, I shot it in this first of this summer(2004) I was going around there to hot the old cairo, Of course you know this area is the center of the very old Cairo. The minimum age of the building there is 500 yrs, Thank you for your comment.
Very nice impressive capture Tahsin, did you take this picture directly from the mosque? it looks very old and aged, is this result to the filters and the way you handled the picture after yo shot it?! i like it allot and very nice About, keep up the good work, regards,
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