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Designed by the Greek architect Yussuf Bushnaq, The Mohammad Ali (Alabaster)
Mosque in the Citadel was begun in 1830 (finished in 1857) in the Ottoman style
by Mohammad Ali Pasha, ruler of Egypt, and founder of the country's last dynasty
of Khedives and Kings. The mosque is the Tomb of Mohammad Ali and is also known
as the Alabaster Mosque because of the extensive use of this fine material from
Beni Suef. Its two slender 270 foot minarets are unusual for Cairo. From the
arcaded courtyard, visitors have a magnificent view across the city to the
pyramids in Giza. Just off the courtyard is the vast prayer hall with an Ottoman
style dome which is 170 feet above.
The Muhammad Ali mosque is modeled on the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Muhammad Ali
built this mosque and he is buried nder a marble cenotaph to the right of the
entrance.
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