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Madrasa al-Sahibiyya (Damascus)Damascus, Syria
The Sahiba Madrasa, also known as al-Madrasa al-Sahibiyya, is located in the Salihiyya quarter of Damascus, about two kilometers to the north of the walled city. It was built between 1233-1245/630-643 AH by Rabiطa Khatun, a sister of Salah al-Din,he founder of the Ayyubid dynasty who annexed Damascus from the Zangids. She endowed the institution through a waqf for the Hanbalite school of jurisprudence.
According to Jean Sauvaget, the plan of the madrasa has remained unchanged since its erection. The building has a rectangular plan with a central open courtyard measuring 11.65 by 11.60 meters. It is accessed through a muqarnas portal situated on the north façade. At either side of the portal are two rectangular windows topped by craved stone lintels that illuminate small iwans facing the courtyard to the east and west of the portal. Inside, the courtyard has three vaulted iwans. The southern iwan contains the mihrab, flanked by two arched windows. Doors on its side walls lead to barrel-vaulted rectangular chambers at the southeast and southwest corners of the madrasa. The east and west iwans are also roofed with barrel vaults and communicate with the two corner chambers through doorways on their southern walls.
Entered through a door adjoining the west iwan is the mausoleum of the founder, originally covered by a dome; it can also be entered from the west iwan. The tomb chamber is lit by windows on its north and east. An arched opening next to the east iwan leads to a square, barrel-vaulted room housing the latrines and gives access to the roof staircase. The square courtyard is divided in half by an arch supported on the iwan walls suggesting the existence, originally, of a roof.
The madrasa is a fine example of Ayyubid stone architecture, displaying massive walls with richly carved but minimal geometric patterns framing the openings on the facades. It has recently been renovated and converted to a primary school.
Sources:
Allen, Terry. "Madrasah al-Sahiba". In Ayyubid Architecture. Occidental, CA: Solipsist Press, 2003. http://www.sonic.net/~tallen/palmtree/ayyarch/ch9.htm#damas.msah [Accessed August 2, 2005]
Burns, Ross. Monuments of Syria, an Historical Guide, 106. I.B. London: Tauris&Co, 1992.
Écochard, M. and Sauvaget, J. Les Monuments Ayyoubides de Damas. Paris: Editions Boccard, 1938.
Rihawi, Abdul Qader. Arabic Islamic Architecture: Its Characteristics and Traces in Syria, 86. Damascus: Publications of the Ministry of Culture and National Leadership, 1979.
Location
al-Salihiyya, Damascus, Syria
Associated Names
Events
1233-1245/630-643 AH
Style Periods
1169-1260
Variant Names
مدرسة الصاحبية
Original
al-Madrasa al-Sahibiyya
Transliterated
Building Usages
educational
Madrasa al-Sahibiyya (Damascus)
Damascus, Syria
The Sahiba Madrasa, also known as al-Madrasa al-Sahibiyya, is located in the Salihiyya quarter of Damascus, about two kilometers to the north of the walled city. It was built between 1233-1245/630-643 AH by Rabiطa Khatun, a sister of Salah al-Din,he founder of the Ayyubid dynasty who annexed Damascus from the Zangids. She endowed the institution through a waqf for the Hanbalite school of jurisprudence.
According to Jean Sauvaget, the plan of the madrasa has remained unchanged since its erection. The building has a rectangular plan with a central open courtyard measuring 11.65 by 11.60 meters. It is accessed through a muqarnas portal situated on the north façade. At either side of the portal are two rectangular windows topped by craved stone lintels that illuminate small iwans facing the courtyard to the east and west of the portal. Inside, the courtyard has three vaulted iwans. The southern iwan contains the mihrab, flanked by two arched windows. Doors on its side walls lead to barrel-vaulted rectangular chambers at the southeast and southwest corners of the madrasa. The east and west iwans are also roofed with barrel vaults and communicate with the two corner chambers through doorways on their southern walls.
Entered through a door adjoining the west iwan is the mausoleum of the founder, originally covered by a dome; it can also be entered from the west iwan. The tomb chamber is lit by windows on its north and east. An arched opening next to the east iwan leads to a square, barrel-vaulted room housing the latrines and gives access to the roof staircase. The square courtyard is divided in half by an arch supported on the iwan walls suggesting the existence, originally, of a roof.
The madrasa is a fine example of Ayyubid stone architecture, displaying massive walls with richly carved but minimal geometric patterns framing the openings on the facades. It has recently been renovated and converted to a primary school.
Sources:
Allen, Terry. "Madrasah al-Sahiba". In Ayyubid Architecture. Occidental, CA: Solipsist Press, 2003. http://www.sonic.net/~tallen/palmtree/ayyarch/ch9.htm#damas.msah [Accessed August 2, 2005]
Burns, Ross. Monuments of Syria, an Historical Guide, 106. I.B. London: Tauris&Co, 1992.
Écochard, M. and Sauvaget, J. Les Monuments Ayyoubides de Damas. Paris: Editions Boccard, 1938.
Rihawi, Abdul Qader. Arabic Islamic Architecture: Its Characteristics and Traces in Syria, 86. Damascus: Publications of the Ministry of Culture and National Leadership, 1979.
Location
al-Salihiyya, Damascus, Syria
Images & Videos
suite dam_mat_017
B & W print
Damascus. Sahibiyya Madrasa. Entrance Portal.
35 mm color slide
IMG07949
digital photograph
suite dam_mat_016
B & W print
IMG07946
digital photograph
suite dam_mat_010
B & W print
IMG07945
digital photograph
suite dam_pho_018
B & W print
IMG07947
digital photograph
View all 10
Associated Names
Events
1233-1245/630-643 AH
Style Periods
1169-1260
Variant Names
مدرسة الصاحبية
Original
al-Madrasa al-Sahibiyya
Transliterated
Building Usages
educational