MOHAMED ALI MOSQUE

Mohamed Ali Mosque isthe em­blem of the Cairo Governorate. Mohamed Ali (1769-1849) was born inCavalia, Greece, and was of Albanian origin. He was a soldi­er in the troopsthat were sent to Egypt to free the country from Napoleon's occupation and tookpart in the land battle of Abou Kir on the 25th of July 1799. In 1808 he was thecommander of the Al­banian troops in Egypt. In 1805 the Egyptians revoltedagainst Wali Khourshid and Mo­hamed Ali took over.

The mosque was built in1830 in two parts: the mosque and the courtyard.

The court measures 52 x54 m and is surrounded by four corridors lined with marble columns andsur­mounted by little domes. In the centre of the court there is thefountain for ablutions (where Muslims wash before saying their prayers that takeplace five times a day). The clock tower on the western side of the fountain isof perforated copper. The clock was a present from King Louis-Philippe of Franceto Mohamed Ali Pasha in the year 1845.

Architect YoussefBoshna from Turkey who constructed this mosque, took his model from the HagiaSophia, the church that was later transformed into a mosque, and is known forits Byzantine style.

The mosque is square inshape, the length of its side is 41 m, and cen­tral dome is 21 m in diameterand 52 m high. It is supported by 4 square pillars and surrounded by 4semi-domes and the semi dome of the kibla.

On the western side ofthe mosque stand two cylindrical minarets (pencil minarets) in the Ottomanstyle. The height of each is 84 m. This mosque is characterized by the greatquantities of alabaster that adorn the walls. The pulpit (minbar) and the dekka(tribune) are made of white marble. The mihrab is covered with alabaster andgold decorations. A large number of pendant glass and crystal lamps form circlesof lighting inside the mosque.

Tomb ofMohamed Ali Pasha