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Monuments of Ayyubid architecture in Syria

Here we will enumerate the remaining buildings from the Ayyubid era according to their distribution in the cities, starting with the city of Damascus. This census helps the researcher of the Ayyubid era or its architectural arts because he finds important examples in terms of planning or in terms of architectural and decorative elements.

A) Ayyubid buildings in Damascus

1 - Damascus Citadel (1): It is the most important Ayyubid monument in Damascus, and even the most important example of military architecture in the Ayyubid era (Photo No. 39). It is still in good condition, almost preserving its originality, as it was built by King Al-Adil Al-Ayyubid (he began its construction in the year 599 / 1202). Ten towers, some of them in complete condition, and some of them were restored during the Mamluk era. It has two main doors, the first on the eastern side is beautiful and decorated with muqarnas because it opens onto the city. The second is on the northern side, close to the Barada River.

It was surrounded by a moat filled with water. Inside it were palaces, baths, and mosques. It was originally the headquarters of the sultans, then it became the headquarters of the deputy sultan during the Mamluk era. Despite the importance of the Damascus Citadel from the architectural and historical standpoints, its fame is little and is almost forgotten because it is surrounded by markets from the outside and used as a prison, administrations, and police facilities.

2 - The city wall: I took care of the city wall during the Ayyubid era, and some of its towers and gates were restored and restored. We can consider Bab al-Salam, Bab Touma, Bab al-Faradis, and Bab al-Jabiya from this era, all of which are well-built fortified doors (Photo No. 40), square in shape in the northeastern corner of the wall near Sheikh Ruslan, built by Sultan al-Salih Ayyub, the grandson of al-Adil Abu Bakr, about the year A.D. There is an important tower 645/1247.

3 - Hanbali Mosque: It was built in Salhiya, according to a plan similar to the Umayyad Mosque, and it was the first major mosque built in Damascus after him. It was built by the owner of Arbil, Prince Kawkabari, in the year 604 / 1207, and its condition is good. It is distinguished by its beautifully crafted mihrab, made of stone. Its bowl is covered with muqarnas and is surmounted by an arch with a braid or chain engraved in stone. It has no similarity in other mihrab. The mosque is famous for its wooden pulpit, which is rich in carvings and decorations, and it has a square minaret in the middle of its northern wall. In the courtyard, you can see plaster windows above the arches of the sanctuary, rich in floral decoration.

4 - Al-Tawbah Mosque: It is located in the locality of Al-Aqiba, and it is the second mosque that was built in the style of the Umayyad Mosque. It was built by King Al-Ashraf Musa bin Al-Adil Abi Bakr in the year 631/1233.

5 - Al-Bimaristan Al-Qaymari: It was built in Al-Salihiyah as its own because it was more like an independent city from Damascus. It was established by Prince Saif al-Din Yusuf al-Qaymari, who died in the year 654/1256. It is still used today as a hospital, and it maintains its ancient condition, with a well-built door. It is important in its geometry and decoration (Photo No. 30).

6 - Al-Jawza Hammam: It is located in the Souq Sarouja area. It has been modified in the Al-Mashlah Hall, while the rest of its sections still maintain their original condition and are considered a complete example of the layout of Arab baths in that era.

7 - Hammam Al-Suruji: It is located in the Al-Shaghour locality, and it is still there
Authentic sections.

8 - Al-Aziziyyah Madrasa: It includes the soil of Sultan Saladin. It is located next to the Umayyad Mosque from the north side. It was built by King Al-Aziz Othman Ibn Saladin in the year 592/1195. The school was demolished, but the soil remained. It has a grooved dome (Photo No. 28), and the most important thing in the soil is the shrine. Made of walnut wood engraved with decorations and writings. During the Ottoman era, the walls of the soil were covered with blue tile panels laid in the year 1037/1627. As for the marble shrine, it is from the era of Sultan Abdul Hamid, made in the year 1878.

9 - Al-Adiliyya Al-Kubra School: The current headquarters of the Scientific Academy, and it includes the soil of Al-Malik Al-Adil Abu Bakr. He was the one who established it in the year 612 and completed its construction after the death of his venerable son, Isa, and it was completed in the year 5620 / 1223. We will describe it in detail.

10 - Al-Rukniyah Al-Baraniyya School: At the foot of Qasioun in the locality of Rukn Al-Din, which was named after the school and is called today Al-Rukniyah Mosque. Well-built, with a rare plan, it contains a sanctuary and a square courtyard roofed with a dome, in the middle of which is a small pool of water. It contains a ruin built by Rukn al-Din Mankurs, one of the Ayyubid princes. It was built around the year 621 / AD 1224. Its dome is grooved and rests on a neck of carved stone composed of two layers of windows (see photo No. (36).

11 - Al-Shamiya School: in Souq Sarouja. It includes a mosque and a cemetery containing three graves, one of which is for the sister of Saladin al-Sham, to whom the school is attributed, and for her son Hussam al-Din, and the second grave for her husband, Prince Muhammad bin Shirkuh. The third belongs to her brother Turan Shah. Her daughter, Sitt al-Sham, dates back to the year 587/1191. The turret is roofed with intersecting arches instead of a dome, and is decorated inside with beautiful plaster carvings.

12 - Al-Badraiya School: It was a home for Prince Osama Al-Jabali and was converted into a school at the end of the Ayyubid era in 1257 AD (5655 AD). It is located to the northeast of the Umayyad Mosque.

13 - Al-Sahibiya School: It was established by Saladin’s sister, Rabia Khatun, nicknamed Al-Sahibiya (she died in the year 643 AH), and it contains soil in which she was buried.