Amir Khayrbak Funerary Complex, Religious complex in Darb al-Ahmar district, Cairo, Egypt
The Amir Khayrbak Funerary Complex is a religious structure in the Darb al-Ahmar district with a rectangular prayer hall whose ceiling features floral designs. Four iwans open into this central space, a layout that creates a sense of connection between different areas of the building.
The complex was built in 1502 by Ottoman governor Khayr Bak, who incorporated an adjacent palace dating to 1293 into the new structure. This combination of two different buildings demonstrates how Cairo's architecture evolved through the reuse and recombination of earlier constructions.
The complex served as a gathering place for Islamic learning, where students came to study religious texts and traditions. You can sense this educational purpose when walking through the rooms, which were designed to support scholarly activity.
The minaret was rebuilt in 2003 after damage from an 1884 earthquake and remains visible from Bab al-Wazir street, making the complex easy to locate. When approaching from the main roads around the district, use this tower as your reference point to find the entrance.
Marble walls within the madrasa section rise about 1.5 meters (5 feet) and feature inscribed verses from Surah al-Fath carved along their upper edges. These carved passages show how religious texts were directly woven into the building's design and decoration.
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