Juyushi Mosque
Juyushi Mosque (Arabic: الجامع الجيوشى "Mosque of the Armies") was built by Badr al-Jamali who was "Amir al-Juyush" (امير الجيوش "Commander of the Armies") for the Fatimid Caliphate. The mosque was completed in 478 H/1085 CE under the patronage of Caliph-Imam al-Mustansir Billah. It was built on an end of the Mokattam to ensure a view of Cairo.
In the Ottoman period, the mosque was probably used by dervishes as a monastery.
Features
The foundation of the mosque has an inscription which identifies the structure as a mazar (Arabic: مشهد "shrine").
The mosque has one dome and a minaret. There is a small courtyard in the center of the mosque. The entrance is a door to the minaret situated besides the prayer hall. There are 2 rooms, one on each side of the minaret. The minaret is a rectangular shaft with a second receding story. On this, there is a dome similar to the one above the mihrab. The Minaret is embellished with muqarnas cornice.
A striking feature of the interior is the mihrab, which is framed by a panel of alternating bands of Quranic inscriptions and arabesque leaf patterns, all in carved stucco. This Mosque/mashhad was also known as a victory monument commemorating Vizier Badr's restoration of order for the Imam Mustansir.
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