Related Articles
Nevine al-Aref – Ahram Online
Located at the Eastern Cemetery of the Memluks in Cairo, stands the Dome of Sultan Qansuh Abu Said, awaiting its visitors after the completion of its restoration.
The restoration project was carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing.
The structural and architectural renovation of the dome was finalised, including the consolidation of the walls and foundations.
“The work included cleaning and restoring the dome’s four facades, the transition area and the dome’s copper crescent”, explained Hisham Samir, assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for archaeological projects and museums and supervisor of the Historic Cairo project.
Work was completed with the installation of windows and inlaid with stained glass, giving the dome a distinctive look. The restoration illuminated the dome’s interior, which reflected its original character with colours that made its architectural elements shine.
A new internal and external lighting system was installed. The mihrab and chandeliers were also refurbished.
“The area surrounding the dome was paved. It is now decorated with plants matching the nature of the monument, while signs and panels describing the historical site and the dome were installed. In addition to surveillance cameras”, Samir explained.
Osama Talaat, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector said, “the dome was constructed in 904 AH, or 1498 A.D, by the Circassian Memluk Sultan Qansuh Abu Said to be his burial ground”.
However, the dome became recently known as the Dome of al-Ghafeer, because it was used as a residence for the guard of the area, or al-Ghafir, and the land around it was called Torab al-Ghafir, or the guard’s cemetery.
