Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Eng. WaadAllah AbuElella Head of the project Sector embarked on an inspection tour to Al Imam Al-Shafie Dome in Historic Cairo to check upon the latest works of conservation.
The Conservation works carried out in the dome of al-Imam al-Shafi’I in the cemetery of Historic Cairo have uncovered fragments of the Mausoleum under the dome, remains of decorative carved stucco features, coloured marble, stone flooring and fragments of a masonry dome were also found.
Mohamed AbdelAziz General Director of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Project explains that the discovered building pre-date the current shrine of al-Imam al-Shafi’i which was built by the Ayyubid Sultan al-Kamil in the year 608/1211 and was built after al-Imam al-Shafi’i was buried there in 204/820. And it’s consisting of an open courtyard with three prayer niches attached to a domed hall
Abdel Aziz continues that the conservation works included the restoration of the structural problems in the masonry walls, subsidence of floors, leaking roofs and disintegration of decorative elements, most notably the decorated stucco exterior, carved and painted wood and coloured marble cladding. Work implemented so far includes documentation, cracks repaired and grouting of masonry walls, soil infill to fix subsidence, consolidation, fixation, restoration and cleaning of carved stucco, repair and insulation of wooden roofs and ceilings and repair of marble cladding.
On his part, Dr Mai El-Ebrashy Head of the initiative “Athar Lina” and “Megawra society” said The excavations works started in March 2016 under the supervision of the Ministry of Antiquities and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Ambassador’s Fund to preserve the dome.
