Project Directors: Dr. Agnieszka Dobrowolska and Dr. Jarosław Dobrowolski  

Historic era: Fatimid Dynasty

Project Location: Historic Cairo

Project Duration: 1995

The mosque of Al-Salih Tala'i, constructed by the Fatimid vizier Amir Al-Salih Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, is one of Cairo's oldest surviving mosques (built in 1160 AD), located outside Bab Zuwayla and within an important urban area. Architecturally, the mosque features several unique elements. It was built above a row of shops, now more than two meters below street level. The original design included three arcades around the courtyard, with a distinctive arcade forming part of the façade instead of a fourth arcade. This arcade, serving as a portico, consists of four columns supporting five keel arches, flanked by small rooms at each corner. The ceiling of this arcade retains its original decoration, making it the only surviving Fatimid ceiling. 

The mosque suffered damage from the 1303 earthquake and underwent restoration in the late fifteenth century which led to the addition of a northwest arcade that misinterpreted the original design. The mosque was almost totally rebuilt, with only the original qibla wall remaining, and old stones with original decorations were reused where possible. The original minaret was likely located at the main entrance, and the mosque also has two side entrances. The mosque's stone facades are adorned with carved moldings along the arches, and the four walls were originally free-standing. Each arched recess had large iron grilled windows, now walled up. The design includes horizontally placed columns for masonry strength, and remnants of crenellations can be seen on the northern façade. The building's northwest corner is chamfered, a technique previously seen at al-Aqmar mosque. Decorative bands with alternating rectangles and inscriptions ornate the façade, while the northern façade suggests the presence of another structure, possibly the shrine that was intended to embrace al-Husayn's head. Internally, the mosque features brick arcades with keel arches, originally framed with carved bands bearing stucco Kufic Quranic inscriptions. The prayer niche, redecorated during the Mamluk period, showcases the earliest use of naskhi script in Cairo's architectural decoration. A malqaf, or windcatcher, near the prayer niche connects to a shaft in the qibla wall, designed to capture fresh breezes. The mosque is richly decorated with carved rosettes, stucco grills, and a wooden door, which is a replica of the original currently housed in the museum of Islamic Art.

The mosque of Al-Salih Tala'i was the subject of an intensive and comprehensive condition survey project that was carried out by Dr. Jaroslaw Dobrowolski and Dr. Agnieszka Dobrowolska. They were able to assess the existing condition of the mosque's structure, determine the most significant issues that the mosque is experiencing, establish restoration priorities, and suggest a number of preventative actions. 

Statement of Responsibility

The thorough and meticulous existing condition survey of the Al-Salih Tala’i mosque was executed by Dr. Jaroslaw Dobrowolski and Dr. Agnieszka Dobrowolska under the auspices of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). Dr. Jaroslaw Dobrowolski and Dr. Agnieszka Dobrowolska effectively examined and assessed the current condition of the mosque, identifying significant issues such as rising damp in the walls, which compromises masonry and wood, and ground settlement that leads to wall displacement. They also recommended conservation efforts for the Al-Salih Tala’i mosque. The condition survey project of the Salih Tala’i mosque was facilitated by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, (formerly the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities). 

Funding

The condition survey project of the mosque of Al-Salih Tala’i was made possible with funding by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) grant number: 263-G-00-93-00089-00 and administered by the Egyptian Antiquities Project (EAP) of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). 

See the mosque of Al-Salih Tala’i on Google Maps here

Additional Resources

• The Aga Khan Trust for Culture: Al-Saleh Tala’ea Mosque

• The Rare Books and Special Collections Digital Library at the American University in Cairo: Mosque of Salih Tala'i

• Behrens-Abouseif, D. (1989). Islamic architecture in Cairo : an introduction (2nd Impression). E.J. Brill.