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Al-Salih Tala'i Drainage System Project

Owning Institution: UCLA, Digital Library Program

About this Collection

The Al-Salih Tala’i Mosque, built in 1160 AD during Cairo's Fatimid caliphate, was commissioned by Amir Al-Salih Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who served as vizier to two young caliphs and is linked to a narrative about the shrine of al-Husayn's head, which he reportedly brought to Cairo but was ultimately placed in the Sayyidna al-Husayn mosque. The mosque features unique construction over shops, creating trenches that suffered from groundwater issues, threatening the mosque's structural integrity. Since 1995, the American Research Center in Egypt has emphasized infrastructure-based conservation, recognizing that restoring monuments requires addressing surrounding infrastructure problems. Dr. Kamal Hefny and experts conducted studies on the groundwater issues affecting the mosque, leading to significant dewatering efforts and the installation of a new tile drain system, which also benefited the broader area of Darb Al-Ahmar Street. View this collection on the contributor's website.

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