Kairouan flourished under the aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century. A brief history of the great mosque of cordoba it is believed that some 2000 years ago, the site on which the mosque is built was the location of a roman temple dedicated to the roman god janus. The great mosque of cordoba traveling thru history. A great mosque has every city in tunisia, but the most important of all is the great mosque of kairouan.
Interior view of the prayer hall of the great mosque of kairouan, in tunisia. The great mosque of almutawakkil was commissioned by the. The first mosque in samarra was built in 836, but it was replaced between 848 and 852 by the great mosque of almutawakkil. The great mosque of kairouan also known as the mosque of uqba great mosque of sidiuqba. As such, it assumed the important function of representing a cosmopolitan and urbane kairouan, one of the first cities organized under muslim rule in north africa. In 863 by the emir abou ibrahim ahmad was built the current mosque.
This was the same time as the reign of charlemagne. Nov 08, 2014 history the great mosque of kairouan was built under the provinces of ifriqiya, which the arab annexed in ad 670, at which time they founded the city of kairouan. The great mosque at kairouan inherited the site of the first muslim oratory in the maghreb, which was built by. Great mosque of kairouan kairouan mosque, landmark. In the 11 th century, kairouan was sacked by rival factions and thus spiraled towards its decline. The great mosque of kairouan, also known as the mosque of uqba, is one of the most important mosques in. Informal and openair places of worship are called musalla, while mosques. As you wander the grounds of the great mosque of kairouan in tunisia you are treading across over a millennia of history. The mosque has great importance historically because it is the first mosque in the first muslim town in the west. This vast space contains a hypostyle prayer hall, a huge marblepaved courtyard and a massive square minaret. The great mosque of kairouan an ancient beautiful mosque in. Great mosque of kairouan mosque, kairouan, tunisia. The great mosque of kairouan an ancient beautiful mosque. As the city expanded during the following three hundred years, the original mosque was torn down and rebuilt in 703, again in 774, and then significantly enlarged by rulers of the aghlabid dynasty in 836 and 863.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no. The great mosque, also known as the sidi oqba mosque, had its simple beginnings in 670 ad, during the time of uqba ibn nafi, the original founder of kairouan. It dates back to the same year of the construction of the city wall which is in 849. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. The islamic governors of tunisia built the great mosque at kairouan in the 800s ad, in the time of the abbasid empire. In 670 in kairouan was built the first mosque, to north africa of muslim arabs shortly after the arrival. Thousands of fragments of parchment and bindings dating from the first five centuries of the islamic era or the 7th through 12th centuries ad were discovered behind an attic wall.
The great mosque of kairouan also known as mosque of uqba, the mosque of the three gates, the mosque of ansar, and two aghlabid water reservoirs remain from its glorious past. The author published this book based on his study of the mosque between 19311934 and 1936. The great mosque of cordoba displays these patterns by way of mosaic, which was the most lavish way to decorate at that time ross. Spiraling up from the ground, the remaining minaret of the great mosque of samarra is the the most prominent of the remaining structures of a mosque that was once the largest in the world. Nov, 2014 the great mosque of kairouan, also known as the mosque of uqba is one of the most important mosques in tunisia, situated in the unesco world heritage town of kairouan. In africa for worship it is the oldest muslim place and after the mecca, medina and jerusalem in islam as the fourth holiest site is commonly regarded. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone.
But the mosque at kairouan was much grander than anything being built in northern europe at this time. The great mosque of kairouan was a public structure, set along roads that served a city with a vibrant commercial, educational, and religious life. The lighthouses of spiritual calling ancient origins. The last interior feature of the great mosque of cordoba is probably the most unique, and shocking, of all. Cupolas of the mihrab and bahou of the zitouna mosque in tunis 856864, cupola of the mihrab of the great mosque of sousse ninth c. From the outside, the great mosque of kairouan is a fortresslike building, which required as much by its massive ocher walls of 1.
The medieval period the great mosque or masjide jameh of isfahan folio from a quran pyxis of almughira dado panel, courtyard of the royal palace of masud iii. Door of the minaret of the great mosque of kairouan uqba ibn nafi mosque built 670 ce kairouan unesco world heritage centre, tunisia. Sue litchfield recommends great mosque of kairouan. April 16, 2019 interesting and reverent, great place. Great mosque of mecca, mosque in mecca, saudi arabia, built to enclose the kabah, the holiest shrine in islam. Any act of worship that follows the islamic rules of prayer can be said to create a mosque, whether or not it takes place in a special building. The mosque of uqba also known as the great mosque of kairouan, is an early example of a hypostyle mosque that also reflects how preislamic and eastern islamic art and motifs were incorporated into the religious architecture of islamic north africa. This location corresponded originally to the heart of the urban fabric of the city.
The great mosque of kairouan, known also as the mosque of uqba, is located in tunisia and was built in 670 ad, the year of the citys establishment by the arab general uqba ibn nafi. The most important mosque in the city is the great mosque of sidiuqba uqba ibn nafee also known as the great mosque of kairouan. Intricately decorated binding from the great mosque of kairouan, 10th cent another major discovery was made in yemens great mosque of sanaa in the early 1970s. The original mosque was destroyed around 690 ad but was rebuilt in the following century. Soon after this mosque, charlemagne built his palace at aachen.
Alazhar mosque, 970972, egypt, cairo, which features the same enhancement of the nave in line with the mihrab. In fact most of the column stems and capitals were taken from ruins of earlierperiod buildings, while others were produced locally. Every city in tunisia has a great mosque, but the great mosque in kairouan is the most important of all. The sidi oqba mosque, or great mosque, is the oldest and most spectacular muslim place of worship in north africa and is islams fourth holiest site after mecca, medina, and jerusalem. Mar 20, 2020 the great mosque of kairouan, known also as the mosque of uqba, is located in tunisia and was built in 670 ad, the year of the citys establishment by the arab general uqba ibn nafi. The great mosque of kairouan is recognized as one of the most significant religious places in islam. Its most striking feature is the formal emphasis on the buildings tlike axis punctuated by two domes, one of which hovers over the earliest preserved ensemble of mihrab, minbar, and maq. Mohammad adnan bakhit, history of humanity, routledge, 2000, page 345 paul sebag, op. This mosque, the oldest and most prestigious sanctuary in the muslim west, is built over a seventhcentury oratory renovated in 703. The geometry analysis of the mosque was first performed at the great mosque of kairouan, in tunisia. The great mosque of kairouan, also called the mosque of uqba, is one of the most important mosques in tunisia, it is spread over a surface area of 9,000 square meters and it is one of the oldest places of worship in.
The great mosque of kairouan unknown binding january 1, 1965 by paul sebag author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Fourth holiest city of islam after mecca, medina, and jerusalem, kairouan is an important religious pilgrimage site, and for history lovers, one of. In kairouan acres 30 hectares contains the great mosque, with a 115foot 35metre high minaret. Kairouan from unesco arts and humanities art of the islamic world early period. The magnificent structure the oldest muslim place of worship in africa. After its establishment, kairouan became an islamic and quranic learning centre in north africa. The great mosque of damascus the great mosque of cordoba the great mosque of kairouan kairouan from unesco medieval period browse this content arts of the islamic world. The citys main attraction is the great mosque of sidiuqba, which is said to largely consist of its original building materials. Kairouan great mosque the great minaret at kairouan you may wish to read a page with an introduction to this section and a map first kerouan was founded by uqba ibn nafi in the fiftieth year of the hejira a.
The use of the golden section in the great mosque at kairouan. As such, it assumed the important function of representing a cosmopolitan and urbane kairouan, one of the. History the great mosque of kairouan was built under the provinces of ifriqiya, which the arab annexed in ad 670, at which time they founded the city of kairouan. The city of kairouan, tunisia, has long been the maghreb s most ancient and holy city, a key gathering place for arabomuslim civilization. The great mosque of kairouan, also known as the mosque of uqba is one of the most important mosques in tunisia, situated in the unesco world heritage town of kairouan. A stellar example of architecture brilliance, artistic flair, and lustrous decoration, the mosquecathedral flaunts detailed carvings, mosaics and usage of multicolored. As the city expanded during the following three hundred years, the original mosque was torn down and rebuilt in 703, again in 774, and then significantly enlarged by rulers of the. Great mosque of kairouan kairouan, tunisia atlas obscura. The modern building is the product of centuries of development, with its oldest parts dating to a 16th century ottoman renovation. Around 690, shortly after its construction, the mosque was destroyed during the occupation of kairouan by the berbers, originally conducted by kusaila. Great mosque of kairouan mosque, kairouan, tunisia britannica.
Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Known as the great mosque of kairouan, it is an early example of a hypostyle mosque that also reflects how preislamic and eastern islamic art and motifs were incorporated into the religious architecture of islamic north africa. The great mosque of kairouan in presentday tunisia was reportedly the first mosque built in northwest africa, with its present form dating from the 9th century serving as a model for other islamic places of worship in the maghreb. It has been said that seven pilgrimages to this mosque is considered the equivalent of one pilgrimage to mecca. The history, heritage, story and jama of the mosque are fascinating. The great mosque at kairouan inherited the site of the first muslim oratory in the maghreb, which was built by uqba ibn nafi in 50 670. Uqbah in the 7th century, the present mosque is the fifth mosque built on the site and dates from aghlabid times. It can also be referred to as mosque of uqba ibn nafi, in honor of its original founder. Great mosque of samarra samarra, iraq atlas obscura. By the founder of kairouan it was built, he was the sidi oqba, for that as the sidi oqba mosque is also known the mosque. The great mosque, also known as the uqba mosque, is at the heart of the citys heritage.
The mosque is spread over a surface area of 9,000 square meters. Research that the golden section applied to a mosque found around 670 m may be used as a guide. The mosque has aghlabid architecture and appears as a fortress on a hill. Its present shape reflects the work of ziyadat allah i, who ordered the reconstruction of the edifice in 836 1 the structure is built in dressed stone cut like brick. The aesthetics signified the great mosque and kairouan, and, thus, its patrons. Restored starting in 1962, the mosque is considered one of the most prestigious religious monuments in the country. This, though, is the last feature which the great mosque of cordoba and umayyad mosque have in common. The great mosque of kairouan is one of the most impressive and largest islamic monuments in north africa, its perimeter is almost equal to 405 metres 1,328 feet. It was built during the aghlabid rule of ifriqiya in the 9thcentury which served as a. The great mosque of cordoba, also known as the mezquita of cordoba and officially known as the mosquecathedral of cordoba is one of the most splendid samples of mujedar architecture to be found in all of andalusia. Jun 20, 2019 the great mosque of kairouan was a public structure, set along roads that served a city with a vibrant commercial, educational, and religious life. The founding father of kairouan, uqba ibn nafi, constructed a small mosque on the location in ad 670.
It can also be referred to as mosque of uqba ibn nafi, in honor of its. The mosque was the first building to be erected in the town, a tradition which had been followed by most leaders. Our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to. The great mosque of kairouan, also known as the mosque of uqba, is one of the most important mosques in tunisia, situated in the unesco world heritage town of kairouan.
Also known as the mosque of sidi ukba, alqayrawan mosque was built by the first muslims to arrive in tunisia and north africa under the leadership of uqba ibn nafi in 670 ce. Built by uqba ibn nafi, an arab general, around 680 ad it is also called the mosque of uqba, this is the first mosque in the islamic west. In kairouan the great mosque was built in stages between 836 and 866. It is the oldest muslim place of worship in africa and is commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in islam after. After its establishment, kairouan became an islamic and qur. Apr 29, 2020 great mosque of mecca, mosque in mecca, saudi arabia, built to enclose the kabah, the holiest shrine in islam.
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