The Expressive Intent of the Mamluk Architecture of Cairo: A Preliminary Essay

Abstract

Although we have a great many monographs concerning the buildings erected under Mamluk patronage in Cairo, so that we know a good deal not only about their plans and construction per se, but also about the scope of the artistic and technical influences out of which the tradition which they represent was fashioned, it is nevertheless premature to attempt a genuine synthetic history of the Mamluk architecture of Cairo. The reason for this opinion lies not in the gaps in our knowledge of the subject--for this perpetual excuse has less application to the Mamluks than to almost any other period in the history of Islamic architecture-but rather in the lack of serious