Table 2 Details and features of the examined minarets
From: Seismic vulnerability assessment of historical minarets in Cairo
Minaret | Era | Height (m) | Description | Openings | Position | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | Tulunid | 40.4 | The minaret has a shaft with a square section that is developed into a circular one, then an octagonal cross-section surmounted by the "mabkhara" and a crescent | Total = 5 (Main door + four openings at the octagonal section) | The minaret was built as a separatearchitectural element on the northwest side of the mosque | The only Samarra minaret style in Cairo The least slender Cairne historical minaret |
B | Fatimid | 46 | The minaret consists of a tapering cylinder that stands on a square base and carries an octagonal tapering section, then mabkharah with a platform ofwooden railing | Total = 9 (main door + four beneath the mosque roof's level + four above the mosque roof's level) | Both minarets were built as separate structures enclosed by a rectangular stone tower 3 m away that covers its lower portion by whichminarets appear as projected elements at the corners of the main façade of the mosque | 3 spiral staircases: The internal stone staircase. And two exterior staircases. A steel external staircase ends at the mosque's roof; the stone staircase starts from the mosque's roof and leads externally to the uppermost part of the minaret |
C | 41 | The minaret has a rectangular section carrying an octagonal tapering section, then mabkharah | Total = 16 (Main door + eightbeneath mosque roof's level + sevenabove mosque roof'slevel) | |||
D | Bahri Mamluk | 81 | Each minaret consists of a square base, carrying a vertical shaft with two balconies that change its cross-section from an octagon to a smaller octagon, followed by a cap (i.e., jawsaq) with an onion-shaped bulb. Jawsaq of minaret D is supported on eight columns | Total = 6 (Main door + four openings onthefirstfloor + firstbalcony door) | Minaretswere erected at the corner on a massive buttress (i.e., a semicircular faceted tower) of the main façade of the mosque | Minaret D is the tallest minaret with mamluk-style.Access to the main door of the Minaret D is through an adjacent stone structure with a 25-ringspiral stone staircase.Fourwooden ties supported Minaret E |
E | 60 |  | Total = 7 (Main door + fouropenings in 1st floor + first balcony door + 1 opening in the secondfloor) | |||
F&G | Burji Mamluk | 39 | Each minaret consists of a square base with 13*4.40 m. Only 4m height of this base appears on Bab Zewila roof as a square base that changes to an octagon to a smaller octagon cross section and, finally,jawsaqsupported on eight marble columns. Minarets have shafts with two balconies | Total = 5 (Main door + three openings on the first floor + firstbalcony door) | Both minarets were grafted on Bab Zewila towers | Twin minarets.The special location and notable slenderness between Mamluk minarets |
H | Ottoman | 29.4 | The minaret has a square base with a cylindrical shaft, a balcony that changes to a smaller cylindrical cross-section with eight openings, and a conical cap (i.e., a pencil-shaped top) | Total = 12 (Main door + opening leads to secondmosque floor + opening leads to mosque roof + balcony door + eight openings at the minaret's top) | The minaret has a high base that extends to the upper end of the southeastern façade of the mosque and protrudes slightly from it by 27 cm | It is the shortest minaret in the case study. Three wooden ties supported different parts of the minarets |