Madrasā al-Māridānīyyā: the Plan

 

The little building has suffered from recent additions to its exterior but remains unchanged inside. The irregularity of the plan is caused by the bifurcation of three roads. The entrance is from the north. The court has its fine old pavement. The prayer hall lies opposite the entrance ʾīwān, as usual. The eastern ʾīwān is fully developed; the western was smaller and is reduced to almost nothing by the minaret. The entrance still has a soffit with elegant wood carving, and in the prayer hall several such panels are preserved on the doors. The archaic ornament is certainly not later than 610 (1213-1214 CE).

Ernst Herzfeld. Damascus, Studies in Architecture III. Ars Islamica XI-XII 1946 (p. 1-71).