Islamic Art and Archaeology in Palestine by Myriam Rosen-Ayalon

Author:Myriam Rosen-Ayalon [Rosen-Ayalon, Myriam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Archaeology
ISBN: 9781315425955
Google: M6kYDQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2016-09-16T04:30:23+00:00

Jerusalem

The Mamluk era is the period in which the walled city of Jerusalem took shape. To a certain extent, today’s visitor to the Old City experiences the Mamluk city as it expanded between the 13th century and 1517, when the city fell to the Ottomans. Many “living” examples of this architecturally rich period are still in existence and constitute a gold mine of information. Naturally, some monuments have disappeared;53 others are partially in ruins;54 but those that have survived form a true panorama of Mamluk art in Jerusalem.55

The relative calm that reigned during this period in terms of foreign relations did not prevent internal conflicts, the inevitable outcome of the Mamluk system of government. The vagaries of this system are reflected in the architectural activities of the era. Yet despite the political conflicts and other vicissitudes of Mamluk rule, the main centers of the regime were clearly linked. Buildings in Palestine are closely connected to those in Cairo and Syria.56 The strong points may vary locally, and it is obvious that the status of the different centers, as well as the identity of the different Mamluk leaders, had an impact on the architecture. Nevertheless, the monuments of this era as a whole, whether in Palestine, Syria, or Egypt, share numerous common features, and their analysis forms one of the most original chapters in the history of Islamic art. Whether in Cairo, the capital of the empire, Damascus, the stronghold of government, or Jerusalem, the imposed residence of the exiles,57 all were part of the new Mamluk style. More in-depth studies can reveal local particularities, but the global traits of this style are easily identifiable.

The abundance of monuments greatly facilitates our understanding of this period. Studies of the numerous buildings built in Jerusalem between the 13th and 16th centuries still standing today can draw on the vast collection of original written sources. Many historians have analyzed these sources, and their contributions to investigations of this period are invaluable.58 Many of these monuments still have their waqfiya, or religious institution certificates, making it possible to identify their function as well as the name of the donor who built them.

About 20 years ago, documents of this type were discovered that are of prime importance for understanding buildings and life in Mamluk Jerusalem;59 in particular, they confirm other written sources related to architecture. In terms of archaeology, our knowledge is enhanced by the fact that most buildings have inscriptions, almost always positioned above the entrance or inside the building. These help identify the monument, the date of its construction, and the name of the founder; they may also indicate the name of those involved in the building and in some cases the name of the architect.60

The fact that the Mamluk system prohibited hereditary rule probably explains the astonishing proliferation of architectural output.61 This was characteristic of the entire Mamluk empire, and Jerusalem was no exception.62 More than 100 buildings still standing today, covering a period of three centuries, have been indexed.63 Yet to really

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