Some Mosques

I know next to nothing about Islamic history and architecture, but after today I sure wish I did. Manu and I went wandering around Islamic Cairo, where we checked out the mosque of Sultan Hassan. It was built in the 1300s by, surprise surprise, Sultan Hassan. Unfortunately he was killed shortly before its completion. It is a beautiful building. Here is a photo of the mihrab, oriented toward Mecca. (Note also that the carpet keeps those immersed in prayer facing in the proper direction!)


This particular mosque also contained a school and the tomb of Sultan Hassan himself. (We also saw the tomb of the last Shah of Iran today... wild.) Next we headed over to Ibn Tulun, which is absolutely beautiful. Check out this tower!


Of course, all of this amazing architecture is surrounded by normal, modern Cairo buildings. Here's your usual apartment building, complete with laundry hanging off of the balconies, next to a majestic mausoleum.


After today I realized I need to learn at least a little Islamic history -- this stuff is way cool.