{"en":"History of the Citadel of Saladin: A fortress above Cairo"}
"{\"en\":\"<p dir=\\\"ltr\\\"><span style=\\\"font-size: 24pt; color: rgb(41, 68, 91);\\\"><a style=\\\"color: rgb(41, 68, 91);\\\" href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/exodustravel.net\\\/\\\"><strong>History of the Citadel of Saladin: A fortress above Cairo<\\\/strong><\\\/a><\\\/span><\\\/p>\\r\\n<p dir=\\\"ltr\\\">One of the most iconic <strong>Islamic monuments<\\\/strong> in <strong>Cairo<\\\/strong> is a fortress above a hill built by <strong>Sultan Saladin<\\\/strong> between <strong>1176 <\\\/strong>and <strong>1183 <\\\/strong>to protect the city and <strong>Syria<\\\/strong> from the danger of the <strong>Crusaders<\\\/strong>. As you enter the Citadel and move around, the unique architecture of the Citadel will enchant you, and the small details of the building. But I am sure you are wondering who <strong>Saladin <\\\/strong>is. So let me give you a brief about him.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p dir=\\\"ltr\\\">He is the <strong>first Egyptian Sultan <\\\/strong>and the founder of the <strong>Ayyubid dynasty.<\\\/strong> He was sent to <strong>Fatimid Egypt <\\\/strong>to help them solve the issues, and he succeeded in overthrowing the <strong>Fatimid<\\\/strong> and defeating them in <strong>1171 AD<\\\/strong>. In <strong>1187<\\\/strong>, he defeated the <strong>Crusaders<\\\/strong> in the famous <strong>Battle of Hattin<\\\/strong>, and he was able to expand to Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Hijaz, and parts of North Africa.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p><strong> <\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<ul>\\r\\n<li dir=\\\"ltr\\\" style=\\\"font-size: 18pt; color: rgb(122, 140, 140);\\\"><span style=\\\"font-size: 18pt; color: rgb(122, 140, 140);\\\"><strong>History of the Saladin Citadel<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/li>\\r\\n<\\\/ul>\\r\\n<p dir=\\\"ltr\\\">Built by <strong>Saladin<\\\/strong> in<strong> 1176 AD<\\\/strong> to protect the country from the <strong>Crusaders<\\\/strong>. It was then completed by <strong>King Al-Malek El-Kamel<\\\/strong> in <strong>1182 AD<\\\/strong>. The rulers after them kept the <strong>Citadel<\\\/strong> and its renovation and restorations, as it was the main residence for rulers for 700 years.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p><strong> <\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<ul>\\r\\n<li><span style=\\\"color: rgb(122, 140, 140); font-size: 18pt;\\\"><strong>Architectural highlights<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/li>\\r\\n<\\\/ul>\\r\\n<ol>\\r\\n<li><span style=\\\"color: rgb(249, 157, 28); font-size: 14pt;\\\"><strong> Mosque of Muhammad Ali<br><br><\\\/strong><span style=\\\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\\\"><span style=\\\"font-size: 12pt;\\\"> Built between 1832 and 1857, the mosque is known as the <strong>“Alabaster Mosque.”<\\\/strong> The mosque is inspired by <strong>Ottoman <\\\/strong>architecture. The mosque was built in memory of <strong>Mohammed Ali’s son<\\\/strong>, <strong>Tusun Pasha.<\\\/strong> The mosque feels like it is penetrating the sky because of the height of the dome, in addition to the tall minarets, and the interior that is covered by <strong>alabaster<\\\/strong>.<\\\/span><br><br><\\\/span><\\\/span><\\\/li>\\r\\n<li><span style=\\\"color: rgb(249, 157, 28); font-size: 14pt;\\\"><strong> Al Nasir Muhammad Mosque<\\\/strong><\\\/span><\\\/li>\\r\\n<\\\/ol>\\r\\n<p dir=\\\"ltr\\\">Built in <strong>1318 AD<\\\/strong> by <strong>Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad<\\\/strong>, the mosque is the oldest one in the <strong>Saladin Citadel<\\\/strong>. Even though it is more modest than <strong>the Mosque of Muhammad Ali<\\\/strong>, it holds more significance as it was the main mosque that rulers prayed at for the Friday prayer, and it shows how important Egypt was for the Islamic world back then, politically and culturally.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p dir=\\\"ltr\\\">Architecturally, the mosque is inspired by the<strong> Mamluk architecture<\\\/strong>, as <strong>the green-tiled dome <\\\/strong>remains as one of the most unique and important architectural features not only for <strong>Egyptian mosques<\\\/strong> but for <strong>Islamic architecture<\\\/strong> in the whole world.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p><strong id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-3a9fca3d-7fff-b550-94f2-f35ecb7bc060\\\"><br><\\\/strong>The Citadel is much more than an ancient building; its historical, religious, and military importance is what makes it important. Whether you are fond of Islamic architecture, a history buff, or just want to view <strong>Cairo<\\\/strong> from above and enjoy looking at iconic buildings, the Citadel is the place for you.<\\\/p>\"}"
