The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities continues efforts to restore and develop archaeological sites and buildings across the country.
The Supreme Council of Antiquities began restoring the Sabil of Prince Sheikho in Al-Hattaba ( near the Citadel of Saladin(Salah al-Din) in Cairo.
It is worth noting that a sabil is an Islamic building consecrated to offer freshwater to pedestrians and poor people.
Dr. Osama Talaat, Head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities explained that the restoration includes the mechanical cleaning of the sabil's facade stones.
The inscriptions and decorations in the sabil were shown and modern encroachments were removed on both sides of it, and an iron fence was placed to protect it. Works are still continuing until the completion of the restoration project soon.
D. Talaat added that the Sabil of Prince Sheikho has unique features among the rest of the sabils, given that it is the only model engraved in the rock at the edge of the hill on which the Citadel of Salah al-Din is built.
It is also one of the rare examples in the style of a separate sabil that is not attached to a mosque, school, gorge, or religious or civil facility.
It has a single rectangular facade overlooking Bab Al-Wadae (farewell bidding gate) Street, with five pointed arches in one row, and in the middle of this apse is the entrance opening to the sabil, where it leads to two rooms following one of the other.
The arches on the main facade are adorned with an inscription band decorating the facade of the sabil, in addition to the inscriptions and the blazon (insignia) of Prince Sheikho.
The Sabil was built by Prince Sheikho al-Omari al-Nasiri in the year 775 Hegira / 1354 AD.
Prince Sheikho is the nickname of the great prince Saif al-Din Sheikh al-Omari al-Nasiri (relative to Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun), who was included in the functions of the state until he reached a great position during the reign of Al-Muzaffar Haji Ibn Al-Nasser Muhammad.
Contributed by Ahmed Moamar
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