Historical manuscript, treating the history of several of the Qalawun Dynasty Mamluk rulers and the buildings of medieval Cairo. IE TCD MS 1518

Digitised version of IE TCD MS 1518, a historical manuscript, treating the history of several of the Qalawūn Dynasty Mamluk rulers and the buildings of medieval Cairo (formerly titled Fragment of a historical work, treating of Mansur). Manuscript deals with some of the Mamluk buildings built at the time, especially the maristan/hospital al-Mansuri, founded by al-Mansur in Cairo in 1284-1285. The treatise dates to Mamluk Cairo. Codex, ink, colours and gold on paper. Arabic text in naskh script. Starting with folio 3r, sentences are separated by small golden circles in black frames and a darker brownish dot in the centre. Resembles the decorative circles separating Qur'anic verses. Some folios have a thin red irregular frame. Titles are in gold. The manuscript starts with Mamluk-Christian relations in Cairo and with the Mamluk Prince Sirghitmish's role in society and his role in preserving and renovating architectural sites and endowments (fols. 1v-12r). The author dedicates several folios to different buildings and the money spent on them (fols. 13r-15v). He indicates the prince's responsibility over different endowments, buildings and postal services (fols. 19r-23v). He dedicates a long section to al-maristan al-Mansuri/the Mansuri Hospital, the reasons behind its building and the people in charge (fols. 19r-28r). The scribe adds a section on the School of Sighitmish next to Ibn Tulun Mosque and its inauguration (fols. 47v-54r). Style and language of the manuscript are poetic with rhyming prose and interspersed with verses of poetry revealing of Arabic literature and culture at the time. The maristan/hospital still partially stands in the heart of Cairo. It gives insight into medieval medicine and treatment in Mamluk Cairo. The maristan is mentioned in many medieval accounts. A modern ophthalmology hospital has replaced some sections.