Gayer Anderson Museum.. Hidden Gem of Egypt's Architecture

Historical houses such as ” Gayer Anderson Museum” or “Beit El Kertlia” stand as examples of ‎how magnificent and great historical Islamic architecture was in Egypt and where rich families used to live. It is mentioned that a woman from ”Crete” ‎island bought the house and lived in it and this was why the house was ‎named ”Beit El Kertlia” or ” People House”.

Gayer Anderson Museum

The house was residence of ”Gayer Anderson” a British officer in the Egyptian army and a breed of inpidual known as an ”Orientalists”. They were frequently explorers of Egypt’s monuments before the scientific methods of Egyptology.” Anderson” was born in 1881 and died in 1945.

“Anderson Museum” is located next to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo. It was built in 1631 by a wealthy man called ”Mohamed Ibn Hah Salem Ibn Gelmam”.

Gayer Anderson Museum

The house is considered to be one of the most marvelous historical structures in Egypt and it is a popular tourist attraction. It used to host a ”Sabil” which offered fresh water to the public.

El- Sabil was considered to be a religious structure that was added to a mosque or a ‎mausoleum to provide water to Muslims for ablution before performing prayers.

Gayer Anderson Museum

Many of the architectural features of house can be viewed from the 'Maqa’ad' ‎including the decorated walls of the house that are distinctive with their white and ‎red colors.

El- ‎Salamlek was the hall where the men used to meet; it is pided into three sections. There are two galleries surrounding the main chamber of the hall.

Gayer Anderson Museum

Each gallery has ‎many magnificently created Mashrabeya screens. The hall has many colorful pillows ‎and wonderful wooden ashtrays that were decorated with pearl and ivory. ‎

Gayer Anderson Museum

The gallery of photographs and drawings hosts a rare collection of fishing, love, ‎celebration, chanting, wildlife, flowers, and birds’ scenes. ”El-Haramlek” hall also houses many shelves and cupboards with their ‎wonderful colors that were created in the ”Persian” style.