Mustansiriya Madrasa

1233

It is situated by The Tigris next to Arafiye Mosque in Baghdad. It is a madrasa with two storeys and four (three) iwans and an open courtyard. It was built by Caliph Mustansir in 1233. It was repaired many times in both The Ottoman period and Republic lraq.

Measuring approximately 104,80 x 48,80 m on the outside, entrance to the madrasa is via a portal in the middle of the North facade. There is an epitaph dated 1233 inside the portal's vault.

I wan opposite the entrance iwan was converted to a small mosque. There are student rooms of various size on the ground floor and the 1st floor. There are larger places to the East and West, which are used far administrative and supply purposes. There is another iwan on the West facade, which opens to the outside. This iwan was used as Kuran reading teaching section.

A great emphasis was placed on the decoration of the madrasa. Monotonousness of the walls were eliminated by series of brick arrangement on the inner and outer facades. There are geometrical, plant decorations and epitaph bands on the portal, iwan vaults and inside surface niches. Motifs include palmettes and Rumis and this decoration is in terracota.