Wikala of Qawsun

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
<p>This <i>wikala</i> on El-Gamaleya Street, the first such structure in Cairo, was constructed before 1341 AD/741 AH by the Amir Qawsun and was used by <a href="/facts/Nabulsi_soap/mfDHRQ0s">Nabulsi soap</a> and coffee merchants during the 17th and 18th centuries, thus becoming known as the "Wikala of Soap." It was demolished in the 1960s to make way for a new school building, and only the portal of the original structure remains. This gate was moved slightly north and raised to current ground level when the remainder of the building was demolished. It is a square shape and has a fine blazon in the shape of a cup, as Qawsun was <a href="/facts/Cup-bearer/fFI2hQ7E">cup-bearer</a> to Sultan <a href="/facts/Al-Nasir_Muhammad/WYMdCLBU">al-Nasir Mahammad</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
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<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>وكالة قوصون (المدخل الرئيسي) | وسط القاهرة. Center for documentation of present and natural heritage <a href="https://islamic.cultnat.org/Object?ID=11&Src=Mon" target="_blank">https://islamic.cultnat.org/Object?ID=11&Src=Mon</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Meinecke, Michael. Islamic Cairo: architectural conservation and urban development of the historic centre : proceedings of a seminar, 39. London: Art and Archaeology Research Papers, 1980. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Warner, Nicholas. The monuments of historic Cairo: a map and descriptive catalogue, 88. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2005. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Meinecke, Michael. Islamic Cairo: architectural conservation and urban development of the historic centre : proceedings of a seminar, 39. London: Art and Archaeology Research Papers, 1980. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Warner, Nicholas. The monuments of historic Cairo: a map and descriptive catalogue, 88. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2005. <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Wikala of Qawsun open-in-new

Wikala of Qawsun