Cordoba’s Islamic Legacy: Art, Mosque, and Madinat al-Zahra
Art and Architecture of Islamic Cordoba
The Caliphate
In 750, the Abbasids moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad. In the same year, they defeated the Umayyad family, killing all their princes except Abd Al-Rahman I. In 756, Abd Al-Rahman I fled, taking refuge in North Africa, and arrived in Cordoba, establishing the independent emirate. This involved significant conquests. In 929, Abd al-Rahman III proclaimed himself caliph, marking a golden age for Al-Andalus. Cordoba became the most populated city, a highly educated society with a flourishing scientific community.
The Mosque of Cordoba
The Mosque of Cordoba stands as one of Islam’s most beautiful medieval monuments in the West and a prime example of Islamic civilization in Al-Andalus, surpassing the mosques of Damascus and Al-Aqsa in grandeur.
Structure
Originally, the mosque featured a forest of columns with alternating white stone and red brick arches, creating the illusion of a suspended ceiling.
Evolution
The mosque underwent four expansions from the 8th to the 10th centuries by emirs and Umayyad caliphs to accommodate the growing population.
Expansions:
- Abd Al-Rahman I: Added 12 transverse bays cut by 11 naves, altering the qibla’s direction. These naves featured arches that were bent to increase the building’s height, inspired by the aqueduct of Miracles in Merida. The shafts and capitals were repurposed from previous Roman structures.
- Abd Al-Rahman II (833-848): Broke the qibla wall of the chapel, adding eight sections and closing the courtyard with saquifas on both sides. Masrur Nasr oversaw the work.
- Abd al-Rahman III: Enlarged the courtyard, planted trees and laurel, and rebuilt the minaret into a prominent tower.
- Al-Hakam II (961-966): Added 12 more bays to the prayer room by breaking the qibla wall. Chafer led the construction, which included:
- The Skylight Chapel of Villaviciosa, featuring a ribbed dome surrounded by arches.
- The Maqusura, similar to the skylight but tripled in size.
- The Mihrab, designed as a unique room in Islamic art history, decorated with mosaics by Byzantine artisans.
- Al-Mansur (987-990): Under the direction of Allab ibn Said ibn abd Batu, the mosque was widened laterally by eight sections (towards the Guadalquivir River), and the courtyard was extended. The mihrab is off-center.
Palatine City of Madinat al-Zahra
Madinat al-Zahra, located five kilometers from Cordoba, served as the capital of the Islamic Caliphate in the West. Abd al-Rahman III aimed to provide a political platform and enhance the prestige of the Caliphate. Construction began in 936 under Naskana Ben Abdallah, employing 10,000 people who placed 6,000 blocks daily, using 400 loads of gypsum and lime, and 1,500 mules. The city featured 4,300 columns sourced from Cordoba, Tunisia, and France. A third of the budget was allocated to construction, and the city was inaugurated in 945.
Layout and Structure
According to Al-Idrisi, the city was situated on a hillside and divided into three terraces:
- Top: Palatine units, including gardens and pools.
- Middle: Offices, separate gardens, bureaucratic housing reserved for ministers.
- Low: Mosque, mint, unofficial craft center, bazaar, town hall. Almond and fig trees were planted.
The city had a rectangular plan, defended by a wall. Cavalry and infantry barracks were located on the sides, along with a large zoo featuring wild animals. The upper concourse of the Salon Rico was excavated and brought to light.
Decoration and Architectural Elements
The city utilized the horseshoe arch and employed the capital to nest. New Persian motifs and techniques were incorporated, evident in the acanthus parameters and the tree of life theme. Construction spanned from 953 to 957, led by master alarafie Sunaif and carvers Modafad, Badr, Nasr, Falah, Taria, and Pusic. The rooms were decorated with marble walls, gold ceilings, ebony doors, and a central pond with mercury.