Gallery
Description
Property Name: Al-Firdaws Madrasa
Inventory No: 963-21-5
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2009-09-02
Country (State party): Syria
Province: Aleppo
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 36° 11′ 11.85″ N
37° 9′ 19.49″ E
Historic Period: 13th century, 1st half
Year of Construction: 1235-1236
Style: Ayyubid
Original Use: Madrasa, Mosque
Current Use: Cultural
Architect: Unknown.
Significance
Al-Firdaws madrasa which takes place in the suburb of Aleppo was built by the queen regent Dayfa Khatun between 1235-36. It is the largest Ayyubid madrasa in Aleppo. The monument with eleven hemispherical domes has a rectangle peristyle open courtyard. The remarkable aspect of the plan is the double iwan-hall which is an Abbasid architecture device. There are no openings at its simple façade with the appearance of large masonry blocks showing a solid mass of stone. There are four entrances to the madrasa. Three of them are now closed. The main entrance which is at eh eastern side is typical of Ayyubid architecture. Besides, a mosque takes place in the madrasa. The chamber at the southern corner is used as a mosque having two domes. The entire construction is made of limestone from Aleppo.
Selection Criteria
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
–
References
Tabbaa, Yasser, Geometry and Memory in the Design of the Madrasat al-Firdows in Aleppo, Theories and Principles of Design in the Architecture of Islamic Societies Chapter 3, p.24,25,26, Syria, 1988
Hammad, Manar, Architectures Ayyoubides, le style austère à Alep, p 4,5, Syria,2004
Degeorge, Gérard, SYRIE, Art- Histoire- Architecture, p 186,187,188, Paris, 1983.
Sauaf, Soubhi, Alep; Son bistoire, sa citadelle, ses monuments antiques et son musée, p134, 135, 136, 137.
Allen, Terry, Madrasah al-Firdaus In Ayyubid Architecture, http://www.sonic.net/~tallen/palmtree/ayyarch/ch8.htm#alep.firdaus [Accessed August 2, 2005]