Museum of Islamic Art façade, by: Sami Abbas. Courtesy: Creative Commons via Wikimedia
CAIRO - 10 September 2017: Egypt's Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo is the largest museum of its kind in the whole world.
Its main wing displays its invaluable artifacts divided into the different eras; Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman Islamic era.
The museum from inside. Photo for Egypt Today
The museum from inside. Photo for Egypt Today
The first piece at the entrance of the museum: Quraan from the Umayyad era. Photo for Egypt Today
Marbel panel from the Mamluk era. Photo for Egypt Today
Jars and dishes from different Islamic eras. Photo for Egypt Today
Stucco panels from Iraq during the Abbasid era. Photo for Egypt Today
Wooden panels from the Fatimid era. Photo for Egypt Today
One of the museum's fountains. Photo for Egypt Today
Wooden portable Mihrab from Al-Azhar mosque. Photo for Egypt Today
It has a wide range of aesthetic pieces, including wood panels, ceramic dishes, metal tools, whole doors, lanterns, fountains, mihrabs, and minbars from historic mosques.
After browsing the museum for some time, visitors will trace the evolution of Islamic art through different Islamic eras.
Two flint windows from the Ayyubid era. Photo for Egypt Today
Another fountain. Photo for Egypt Today
Wooden panels from the Ayyubid era. Photo for Egypt Today
Wooden ceiling Mamluk era, Photo for Egypt Today
Wooden portable Mihrab from Sayyida Nafisa mosque. Photo for Egypt Today
Ceramic tiles from Iran. Photo for Egypt Today
Stucco stain-glass window. Photo for Egypt Today
Copper ewers, basins, and cases from the Mamluk era. Photo for Egypt Today
Glass bonbonnaire from Mohamed Ali dynasty. Photo for Egypt Today
Another wing in the museum is different, yet equally interesting. The pieces of this section are classified according to different themes: medicine, science, calligraphy, textile, daily life, and gardens.
Among this eye-opening collection are surgical instruments, medical books, scales, sand clocks, astrolabes, Persian carpets, copies of the Quran, tombstones, musical instruments and a myriad of other things.
The museum is one large floor, yet has enough exhibits for at least two hours of interesting browsing. The museum's interior was designed with a neat setting and depends on the natural light which makes it among the most comfortable museums in Egypt to visit.
Quran from the Mohamed Ali dynasty. Photo for Egypt Today
Ceramic foundation slab from Ottoman era. Photo for Egypt Today
Marbla door from Afghanistan. Photo for Egypt Today
Sample of bride trousseau from the daily life section. Photo for Egypt Today
Ceramic tiles from Ottoman Turkey. Photo for Egypt Today
The science section. Photo for Egypt Today
Manuscript on the medical herbs at the medical section. Photo for Egypt Today
Headstone from Iran at the calligraphy section. Photo for Egypt Today
Wool carpet from the Ottoman era at the textiles section. Photo for Egypt Today
What makes this museum the best of its kind is the large number of antiquities and their intactness.
The museum's tickets are fairly affordable. Foreigners are charged LE 20 ($1.13) per adult and LE 10 per student; Egyptians are charged LE 10 per adult and LE 5 per student. A photography ticket costs LE 50.
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