Madrasā al-Ǧhārkāsīyyā: Inscriptions

 

Inscription 42:

Two inscriptions in four lines each, 115 by 33 cm, are on the two window lintels of the western tomb, on the main street, both giving the same text with only minor variations.

١. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم هذه التربة المباركة للأمير الاسفهسلار الكبير

٢. الغازي المجاهد فخر الدين حافظ ثغور المسلمين قاتل الكفرة

٣. والمشركين اياز جهاركس العادلي الناصري توفّى في عقيب عود الغزاة

٤. في العشرين من رجب سنة ثمان وستّمائة رحم الله عليه وعلى جميع أموات المسلمين آمين  

This blessed turbā belongs to the emir, the great isfahsalār, the warrior, the fighter of the Holy War, faẖr ad-Dīn, the guardian of the frontiers of the faithful, the killer of the infidels and polytheists, Ayāz Ǧhahārkas, officer of al-Malik al-ʿĀdil and of al-Malik an-Nāṣir; he died of the effects of his having been in war, 20 Raǧab 608 (December 28, 1211).

Inscription 43:

Over the door in the court (1), in five lines, 52 by 35 cm.:

١. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم توفّى الأمير الغازي 

٢. المجاهد المرابط المثاغر فخر الدين محمّد 

٣. ولد الأمير الأجلّ فخر الدين جهاركس 

٤. يوم السبت خامس عشر جمادى 

٥. الآخر سنة خمس عشر وستّمائة بشام المحروس

The emir, the warrior, the fighter of the Holy War, the soldier, the guardian of the frontiers, faẖr ad-Dīn Muḥammad, son of the very mighty emir faẖr ad-Dīn Ǧhahārkas passed away on Saturday, 5 Ǧumādā II 615 (August 29, 1218) at Damascus the well guarded.

On the lintels of the two windows of the corner tomb, facing the main street, are two blank recessed panels, each in the form of a tabula ansata.

1. According to Allen, inscription 43 is actually between the two windows, just below the level of the lintels. The location provided by Herzfeld is therefore erroneous. Répertoire chronologique d'épigraphie arabe published a fourth inscription (RCEA, nos. 3688–89, v. 10, pp. 64–65) that added a sentence about the waqf; Allen could not locate it.

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

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

Photo credit: Ǧamāl Kibrīt.