| Places
to visit in Tripoli-Lebanon :
|
Mamluk
Guard Towers of Tripoli
In al-Mina, the port section of
Tripoli, stand the ruins of four great guard towers built by order of the Mamluk sultans
of Egypt to defend their inland city of Tarabulus from sea attack.Originally there were
seven towers, three have practically disappeared. They were seen by voyagers during their
sojourn in Tripoli many years ago and mentioned in their travel accounts.Of the existing
strongholds the "Tower of Sheikh Affan", so-named because the mausoleum of a
high official of Tripoli was built on its south side, has been covered and disfigured by
modern structures and is hardly identifiable today. Bourj as-Seraiya, used by various
public administrations of Tripoli, is now incorporated into the city’s modem
gendarmerie building. Originally it was a square tower and several column shafts are
visible in its walls. The lower story presents a vaulted ceiling dating to Mamluk times. Top
These towers were built over a
period of many years by successive Mamluk na’ibs or governors of Tripoli. From
the ruins of the destroyed Crusader port city, they collected the necessary building
material in order to defend their vulnerable coastline against the Crusaders’ return.
An Arabic text tells us that Emir Aytmish al-Bajasi was responsible for the construct,on
of one of these towers during the reign of Sultan Barquq (I382~1399).
By far the best preserved is Lions’
Tower, Bourj as-Saba. Its blue-grey hued limestone walls are studded with
sections of granite column shafts used as headers in the construction which come
originally from the Roman temples of Tripoli. Its imposing black and white west portal
with two projecting granite column shafts is reached today by modern -built steps . An
artistic molding in relief surrounds the portal. Above, the commemorative plaque appears
to have been wrenched out as well as lion relief carvings which probably gave the tower
its name. The lower walls of the tower slope sharply outward at the bottom thus forming a
miniature talus. This was done, it would appear, for defense purposes in case of heavy
attack. Thus stone missiles, dropped from the machicolation above, would rebound with
force against the enemy’s first and second. lines. Top
Within the tower, the raised ground
-floor hail has six rows of groined vaulting which rest on pillars and upon wall
buttresses. Coats of arms of several Mamluk emirs are painted as frescoes here and there
on the walls. By the west staircase entrance there is a circular escutcheon painted in red
displaying the wine cups of Sultan Barquq.
On the second floor over the main
entrance portal the floor is pierced with five machicoulis to enable the defenders to pour
boiling water and oil upon besiegers who forced their way into the tower. This floor also
has two central pillars and groined vaulting and a central hail surrounded by eight rooms.
A staircase leads to the roof. Of the crenelated parapets all that remains today ate
fragments of machicolation here and there. Lions’ Tower is one of the finest examples
of Arab military architecture in Lebanon and Syria and is an outstanding example of Mamluk
military fortification. Top
The tower had been restored
during the years 1441-1442 by Emir Julban, Mamluk na’ib of Tripoli. Extensive
repair work was undertaken by Sultan Qaidbey in the late fifteenth century. In 1477 this
sultan traveled to Syria to inspect the northern defense line of his realm. Fear of an
attack by the Ottomans was growing from day to day. Therefore important reparation work
was begun on the fortresses of Aintab, Biredjik and the citadel of Aleppo. Striking
similarities exist between the architecture and decoration of Lions’ Tower and the
audience halt built by Qaidbey over the entrance of Aleppo’s citadel. Top
Bourj Ras an-Nahar,
"The Tower at the Head of the Rivet", is located about one kilometer away from
Lions’ Tower and stands at the point where the Abou Ali River flows into the sea. It
is a smaller structure and one enters it through a low door which leads into a hall with a
groined ceiling supported by a large central pitlar. In the south walt there is a prayer
niche, or mihrab, facing Mecca. A barrel-vaulted staircase on the east wall leads
to the roof which has been completely stripped of its crenelated parapet..
Originally small circular
buttress towers were built on all four corners of the tower, the whole being faced with
flat, well-dressed masonry blocks. Vandals throughout the years have removed the stone
facing from almost all of the surface of the towers as well as from the south and east
sides of the building, exposing a crumbling rubble core. The west side, facing Lions’
Tower, is relatively well preserved. It is believed that Sultan Qaidbey undertook repair
work on this defense tower too during his inspection tour of Lebanon and Syria. Top
Historical
References |
Photo Gallery
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Barsbay Tower or Borj Al Sibaa
| Pictures
By |
| Eng.Lamia
KHAYAT |
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