Madrasā al-Atābikīyyā: the Minaret

 

The minaret occupies the southwest corner of the edifice. The minaret is unnecessary for a madrasā, a tomb, or a dār al-ḥadīṭ, though the base of al-Atābikīyyā's at least is probably original, indicating that the monument might have served locally for Friday prayers. Al-Atābikīyyā's minaret was described by ibn Ṭūlūn early in the 16th century as a brick structure of one story. It was restored more than once throughout its long history, namely after the earthquake of 1759. It had a second story in the 19th century that was a miniature version of the first. The base of the minaret is a square 3.9 x 3.9 meters; its height totals approximately 27 meters. 

موفّق دغمان. المدرسة الأتابكيّة. موسوعة الآثار في سورية، المجلّد الأوّل، صفحة ١٥٦-١٥٨. 

قتيبة الشهابي. مآذن دمشق. منشورات وزارة الثقافة في الجمهوريّة العربيّة السوريّة، دمشق ١٩٩٣. 

Terry Allen. Ayyubid Architecture. Solipsist Press, Occidental, California, 1999.