Ibn Tulun: His Lost city and Great Mosque

This elegant, richly illustrated volume covers the history, architecture, folklore and cultural significance of Africa's "longest surviving" mosque. Built by Abbasid Governor Ahmad Ibn Tulun between 867 and 879, it was the centerpiece of his new city of al-Qata’i, northeast of Fustat, the earliest Arab settlement in Egypt (both now part of Cairo). Tarek Swelim comprehensively documents the building's "glorious architecture," focusing on its elegant inscriptions, pointed arches (among Egypt's first), famed scroll-shaped minaret and more. He also examines periods of neglect, e.g., during the Crusades of the 13th century when Mamluk sultans had their hands full elsewhere, and restoration, such as the work undertaken early in the 20the century by King Fuad. Filled with modern and historical images, maps and illustrations, including 3D renderings of the structure throughout its history, the book's design provides visual context for the mosque's important role in the history of Egypt and Islamic architecture.