The mosque cathedral monumental site of cordoba summarises our identity like few other buildings can. After the moors conquered the visigoths in the early 8 th c e ntury, the church was shared by christians and muslims. Mosque cathedral of cordoba, islamic mosque in cordoba, spain, which was converted into a christian cathedral in the th century. A mihrab is used in a mosque to identify the wall that faces meccathe birth place of islam in what is now saudi arabia. A comparison of the great mosque of cordoba and cathedral. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Diverse in design and dimensions, they can illustrate the style of the period or geographic region, the choices of the patron, and the expertise of the architect. This is practical as muslims face toward mecca during their daily prayers.
The mosquecathedral of cordoba, also known as the great mosque of cordoba, whose ecclesiastical name is the cathedral of our lady of the assumption, is the catholic cathedral of the diocese of cordoba dedicated to the assumption of the virgin mary and located in the spanish region of andalusia. Abd alrahman i built the original mosque 786788 in response to the growing population. Notice the great selection of columns taken from san vicente church whose floor was recently revealed beneath the mezquitas floor and other ruins. Historic centre of cordoba unesco world heritage centre. The mihrab in the great mosque of cordoba is framed by an exquisitely decorated arch behind which is an unusually large space, the size of a small room. Built on a visigothic site, which was probably the site of an earlier roman temple, the great mosque of cordoba was begun between 784 and 786 during the reign of abd alrahman i, who escaped from syria to the iberian peninsula after his family was massacred by a rival political dynasty. Prior to this, the cathedral was still in use by the. The great mosque of damascus, also known as the umayyad mosque is the holiest building of the muslim world after mecca and medina. The great mosque of cordoba traveling thru history.
Interesting facts about the mosquecathedral of cordoba. Medieval art march 10, 2015 the great mosque of cordoba is an islamic house of worship in spain. The great mosquecathedral of cordoba is the most important islamic monument in the west, and one of the worlds most amazing sites. In the design and construction of the sheikh zayed mosque artisans have participated and used materials from many countries including italy, germany, morocco, pakistan, india, turkey, malaysia, iran, china, united kingdom, new zealand, greece and the uae. Early in the history of islam, abd alrahman731788 was a member of the umayyad dynasty who survived the abbasid revole and escaped from syria to southern spain, where he found a new kingdom. The mosque cathedral of cordoba has been a national monument since 1882. Apr 16, 2012 the mezquita of cordoba is a cathedral that is located in rome and is a catholic church. The great mosque of cordoba displays these patterns by way of mosaic, which was the most lavish way to decorate at that time ross. Up to 20 people are allowed up the tower every half hour from 9. Artisans were imported from all corners of the islamic world, and only the finest materials were used.
Jan 31, 2008 mosque cathedral of cordoba spainabd alrahman i section this is the oldest section of the mezquita, ordered built by abd alrahman i. Examples of the umayyad mosques ground plan being used as a prototype for other mosques in the region include the alazhar mosque and baybars mosque in cairo, the great mosque of cordoba in spain, and the bursa grand mosque and selimiye mosque in turkey. Inside the great mosque of cordoba spain then and now. The great mosque of samarra, otherwise known as the great mosque of almutawakkil, was once one of the largest mosques in the world. This time specially commissioned materials were used for the work, instead of reusing materials from other buildings.
The expansive prayer hall was built using recycled ancient roman columns. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains. The mosque cordoba by luis alvarez and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It is so important that in 2001 john paul ii became the first pope to visit a mosque. With the arrival of the muslims the area was divided and used by both communities. The moorish ruler of al andalus, abd arrahman i, purchased the christian half in order to build a great mosque which would rival the great mosques of damascus and baghdad. It was built on the site of a visigothic church that, according to legend, stood on the ruins of a roman temple. The building has been slowly expanded over the past 200 years. Introduction the great mosque of cordoba marks an influential point in the development of islamic architecture. New ideas ancient history archaeology articles inside the great pyramids of egypt engineering infographic. It is a living building which visibly integrates the historic layers of different cultures and civilisations. The complexity of the history on display here creates one of its most beautiful examples. Though built in the early 700s, the site of the umayyad mosque, or great mosque of damascus, actually has a lot of differing religious history.
The development of the great mosque paralleled these new. Built in the eighth century, when muslim spain was part of a caliphate. The unfolding of the mystery of its origin goes back to atlantis when an era of world civilization made possible the birth of a community called tartessos in andalusia. Mosquecathedral of cordoba cathedral, cordoba, spain.
The great mosque of cordoba represents a unique artistic achievement due to its size and the sheer boldness of the height of its ceilings. However, it is almost certain that the building which housed the original mosque was destroyed to build the first version of the great mosque. An archaeological exhibit in the mosquecathedral of cordoba displays fragments of a visigothic building, emphasizing an originally christian nature of the complex. Spanish identity politics the mosque in the cathedral. Known locally as mezquitacatedral, the great mosque of cordoba is one of the oldest structures still standing from the 8th century.
This book represents twenty years of thought and research on perhaps the greatest islamic monument in spain the mosque of cordoba. It came about when christian forces conquered cordoba in 1236. The great mosque or masjide jameh of isfahan smarthistory. Under the command of two sections alhakem ii to the mosque, bringing it closer to the river guadalquivir added. The enigmatic orientation of the grand mosque of cordoba. Strange as it may sound, however, the mosque is also a cathedral. The great mosque of cordoba, also known as the mezquita of cordoba and officially known as the mosque cathedral of cordoba is one of the most splendid samples of mujedar architecture to be found in all of andalusia. The great mosque of cordoba is a prime example of the muslim worlds ability to brilliantly develop architectural styles based on preexisting regional traditions. You may wish to see two introductory pages to this section. The first part, patio or portico sahn houses the minaret beneath the renaissance tower, which is the only intervention that abd alrahman iii was in the mosque. This expansion marked the final depth of the mosque, leaving as we see today. The most striking thing about the mezquita is that, incongruously, the mosque contains a christian church cordoba s cathedral. Thus abd alrahman and his successor spared no expense.
The last interior feature of the great mosque of cordoba is probably the most unique, and shocking, of all. Standing in the historic centre, it is one of the most beautiful examples of muslim art in spain. The luminous mihrab of the great mosque of cordoba surrounded by sculptural arches and topped by a dome creates a spatial climax within the hypostyle hall. Read and learn for free about the following article. A stellar example of architecture brilliance, artistic flair, and lustrous decoration, the mosque cathedral flaunts detailed carvings, mosaics and usage of multicolored. The following is a video of our visit to the great mosque of cordoba. A comparison of the great mosque of cordoba and cathedral of santa maria, leon yvette cordova arth 306.
The curious orientation of the grand mosque in cordoba has troubled investigators for almost a century. Showing no respect for their forbears, the moors plundered the sites roman and visigoth remains for the jasper, onyx, marble and granite needed to build them just as, in the early 11th century, they would use material from malagas great roman amphitheatre to build the. The great mosque of cordoba was considered a wonder of the medieval world by both muslims and christians. People as archeologists thought that the pharaohs had used the black magic to build these great constructions. At this time cordoba was the largest, most prosperous cities of europe, outshining byzantium and baghdad in science, culture. Man i in 784786 with extensions in the 9th and 10th centuries that doubled its size, ultimately making. Emir abd alrahman i bought the church in 785, tore it down, and beg an building a mosque.
After the fall of cordoba in 1236, the mosque was preserved as a cultural value by the kings of castile and became an architectural and aesthetic reference that would eventually be transferred to the new world. Completed in 852, it was used until the end of the 11th century. Great mosque of cordoba printable june 15, 2016 march 6, 2018 acraftyarab the most magnificent mosque is a book by ann jungman that tells the story of the great mosque. I had the chance of visit it some years ago because t his is one of the few mosques that allow access to nonmuslims. The great mosque of cordoba, a timeless masterpiece omrania. An archaeological exhibit in the mosque cathedral of cordoba displays fragments of a visigothic building, emphasizing an originally christian nature of the complex. Vincent, which was built around the year 600 mosque cathedral of cordoba. The great umayyad mosque muslim heritagemuslim heritage. Great mosque, cordoba materials and structures, moorish. Courtyard of the mosque has 26 columns what is made in by white marble, porphyry porphyry and pudding stone. The mosque s mostphotographed aspect is its vast main hall, which is supported by over 850 doublearched columns. Pdf the enigmatic orientation of the grand mosque of cordoba. This, though, is the last feature which the great mosque of cordoba and umayyad mosque have in common. Great mosque of damascus background the sixth umayyad caliph, alwalid i ruled 705715, commissioned the construction of the mosque on the site of a former byzantine cathedral in 706.
Here is an extraordinary combination of the familiar and the innovative, a formal stylistic vocabulary that can be recognized as islamic even today. After cordoba was recaptured by king ferdinand iii in 1236 and rejoined christendom, the mosque became used as church. Courtyard, the great mosque or masjide jameh of isfahan photo. In andalusia muslim spain, the mosque of cordoba was first founded by abdarrahman i in 787. The facade of the building is boxlike, grey and has a. The experts think this materiels are pudding stone and breccia stones. Ecker hypothesizes that it was the proximity of the sabat, a covered bridge to the old caliphal now episcopal palace, which determined the location of the capilla mayor. The great umayyad mosque remains one of the great symbols of the glorious period of muslim civilisation and its pride. Mosquecathedral of cordoba, islamic mosque in cordoba, spain, which was converted into a christian cathedral in the th century. The great mosque was meant to serve as a reminder of abd alrahmans reign and to show that the muslims were there to stay the great mosque of cordoba.
Start studying patronage of the great mosque, cordoba, spain. The mezquita mosque dates back to the 10th century when cordoba reached its zenith under a new emir, abd arrahman iii who was one of the great rulers of islamic history. Common types of mosque architecture article khan academy. The mosquecathedral of cordoba 8 enlargement of almanzor. For many years archeologists have been trying to discover the secret of the great ancient egypt buildings called the pyramids. You can climb the 54mhigh bell tower for fine panoramas and an interesting birdseye angle on the main mezquita building. The meaning of the great mosque of cordoba in the tenth century. Its construction continued for a number of years as each succeeding caliph added his contribution to the mosque in the form of restoration and extension, yet the building still preserved its unity and harmony as if it was built by one single person. The mosque in cordoba, to 23,400 m2, was the second largest in the world after that of mecca, until in 1588 the blue mosque in istanbul exceeded. Hypostyle hall great mosque of cordoba cordoba, spainearly islamichall with a lot of columns and archesinfinitely expandable. Techniques and materials blue mosque sultanahmet camii. The construction of the great mosque lasted over two centuries, starting in 786 ad under the supervision of the emir of carboda, abd arrahman i. The original structure was built by the umayyad ruler. Marble, granite and porphyry materiels was used fort he columns of mosque.
Its history sums up the complete evolution of the omeyan style in spain, along with the gothic, renaissance and baroque styles present in the christian part of the structure. The meaning of the great mosque of cordoba in the tenth century the great mosque of cordoba is universally recognized as one of the most singular monuments of medieval architecture. Within the mezquita, in the very center, is a renaissance cathedral, which bishop alonso manrique began build in 1523. In 1236 ad cordoba fell to ferdinand the 3rd and in 1538, under the reign of charles v parts of the original structure was torn down to build a cathedral. It was declared a world heritage site by unesco in 1984 and in june 2014 was given the honour of being classified as a site of outstanding universal value, recognising that the religious use of the temple has guaranteed the preservation of the monument. Patronage of the great mosque, cordoba, spain flashcards. It is a master piece of architectural ingenuity having a decisive influence on the maturity of mosque architecture all over the muslim world. Mosque cathedral of cordoba spain the builder blog. Photo courtesy toni castillo quero via wikimedia commons.
The mosque was initially built as an extension of abd alrahmans palace, connected together by a raised walkway, and was called aljama mosque to honor his wife. The great mosque was supposedly built on the sites of earlier sacred edi ces. The great mosque of cordoba is a mixture of architectural styles superimposed on one another over the nine centuries its construction and renovations lasted. Now, thanks to archaeological work in the suburb of roman corduba named colonia patricia, it. Celebrated for its harmony, balance, dramatic use of light and decoration, and its overall unity and aesthetic sensitivity, the monument belongs to an es.
Subsequently they used the entire building and finally decided to build the mosque on the site of the church. The great mosque was meant to serve as a reminder of abd alrahmans reign and to. The mosque of cordoba muslim heritagemuslim heritage. Oct 23, 2012 after the fall of cordoba in 1236, the mosque was preserved as a cultural value by the kings of castile and became an architectural and aesthetic reference that would eventually be transferred to the new world. It is an irreplaceable testimony of the caliphate of cordoba and it is the most emblematic monument of islamic religious architecture. Centuries after the founding of the mosque, chroniclers described a church that was first divided into muslim and christian halves and then bought and replaced with a new mosque in 169785170787. Location and materials muslims arriving in cordoba in the 8th century, and before starting the works of the great mosque, the hispanovisigodo temple of san vicente shared with christians.
203 990 228 807 630 1521 483 1186 354 939 609 523 760 1409 1206 323 605 1228 338 549 1585 1472 498 1371 1576 1277 970 909 892 641 1511 408 1159 158 251 27 651 270 195 970 723 826 713 839 206 1462