Publication Date
789 / 1387
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;pa;Mon01;17;ar
Library Location
It is located in the heart of the city, and formed its nucleus, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Date
789 / 1387
Notes
This building was exposed to human attacks and the passage of time, which led to the extinction of many of its architectural units. All that remains of the building is a section of its western facade, the remains of a minaret, the dome of the mosque, and some rooms. This khan had a rectangular site measuring 50 m x 75 m, and the khan contained a heavenly courtyard (courtyard). The Khan building consists of two floors. The first floor included service, administration and reception facilities, and was used to store goods and shelter animals, as is the case in most Mamluk khans. The upper second floor was designated for accommodation for merchants and visitors to the khan, and included a mosque with a square hall covered by a dome, the remains of which are still standing today. Three inscriptions were found in this khan, in which the date of construction, the name of the builder, and the blazon (emblem or insignia) of the Amiryunis, made up of an inkwell and a cup, were found, indicating the positions of cupbearer and secretary that the Amiryunis held. This khan has a strategic geographical location with fertile soil and an abundance of water. Since the khan was built on the land road, far from urbanization and cities, its architectural fabric was distinguished by containing many elements related to military architecture. It is like a fortified wall, with a large, massive gate equipped with a large gate. The building was provided with defensive means such as towers, mazaghil (longitudinal openings for observation and throwing arrows), and openings for pouring boiling oil over the entrance. Also, its outer walls are very thick. All of this made it resemble a fortress, which is why it was sometimes called a citadel by the people of the region. This khan served more than one function, as it was a safe trading station for caravans, a center for commercial exchange in the region, and a post station for the Mamluk army on the road between Cairo and Damascus. When trade weakened at the end of the Mamluk era, the Turks used it as a military barracks to secure the land route through the region.
Sample Text
Yusuf al-Natsheh “Khan of Prince Yunus al-Nawruzi” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;pa;Mon01;17;ar
