Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

First World War Black and White Photograph of the Inside of Muhammad Ali Mosque, Cairo

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1915 - 1919

Overview

A small black and white photograph showing the inside of the mosque in Cairo. The image is very dark but a large chandelier and circles of glass lights can be clearly seen. Behind these are large pillars and the lower part of the main dome. A marble floor can also be seen. The reverse of the image has the proforma printing of part of a postcard and an inscription. The photograph has a small border and is in good condition.

Historical information

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo was built by Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1848. This mosque is known as the "Alabaster Mosque", in reference to its marble panelling on its interior and exterior walls. The mosque’s twin minarets are the highest in all of Egypt, each reaching a height of 84 meters. The mosque was built in the Turkish style that consists of an open court and prayer hall. The prayer hall is a square space that surmounted with a large central dome which surrounded by four semi-domes and four shallow domes in the corners.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2022.1.71

Item type

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Photo Paper

Width

88 mm

Height or length

66 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On the reverse in machine printing “CARD / ADDRESS ONLY” with“ Inside Mohommed Ally / Mosk Cairo” written in black ink.

Contextual information

On evacuation from Gallipoli, troops returned to Heliopolis where they undertook training. During this time days off were allowed to visit Cairo. As mentioned in the war diary of C.S.M Clark of the 14th Company of the Australian Service Corps, 17 November 1915-19 May 1916. “3 January 16 - I obtained the Day off & in the morning hired a Gahrie & drove out to the Citadel. ….. The first one visited is called the Citadel & is built on the side of a huge hill overlooking Old Cairo, ………The Minarettes are 420 ft high & a priest climbs up & down every day to call the people to prayer. The Sultans Tomb is in one corner barred off & the cover of the Tomb alone cost £40,000. The height of the various domes are 300ft high & there are balconies running right throughout the whole Ceiling. The Ceiling is lead picked out with Gold paint & it looks glorious. Hanging from the ceiling there are myriads of Chandeliers each one being lighted up 3 times a Year.”

Keywords

First World War

10th Light Horse Regiment

Place made

Egypt

Year

1915 - 1919

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity