The Great Mosque, Cordoba /

Overview sentence?

The Great Mosque, Cordoba (AD 785-988), (180×130m), commissioned by Abd del Rahman, conveying the strength of the Umayyad Dynasty after they fled from Damascus to Spain in AD711 due to threat of their rival Abbasids.

Date?

AD 785-988

Patron?

Abd del Rahman

Dimensions?

180×130m

Composition: Key points

• Rectangular plan - based on 1st Mosque (Mohammad’s House, Medina (Saudi).

• Rectangular outline - shape of pre-existing Roman basilica-style hall.

• Maqsura = south wall (gibla) that featured principle mirhab facing Mecca.

• Dome raised above Mihrab.

Whats the courtyard called?

Sahn

Whats the hippostyle prayer room called?

Haram

Whats the room reserved for holy officials called?

Maqsura - accessed by arched entrance

Structure & Form key points?

• Trabeated structure - enclosed & massive stone buttressed walls.

• Dome raised above maqsura flanked by smaller domes = arcuation (exception from trabeation).

• Regular & Geometric - wooded roof supported by 2nd set of arches.

• Minarets (corners) - elevated platform for Muezzin to summon faithful to prayer.

Volume & Mass key points?

• Interplay - solids & voids in Haram (by double tiered arches).

• Horseshore & Roundheaded arches - rested on piers surrounded by Roman columns.

• Mass = strong in Gibla wall.

Site/location key points?

• 10th Century - Cordoba was largest & most prosperous city in Europe - sacred place of pilgrimage.

• Original site = Roman temple of Janus (God), turned to church by tribes of N Europe = Visigoths in 572.

Scale key points?

• Mosque extended - 3 major additions in 9th+10th century’s.

• Forest-like columns & arches in Haram (big).

• Large Sahn (240 × 197ft).

• Columns in Haram = short (3m) - height through tiers of arches.

How big was the Sahn?

240 × 197ft

How tall were the columns in the Haram?

3m

Roman & Early Christian influences?

• Columns

• Basilical Hall.

Goth & Visigoth influence?

• Foils.

• Lobes

• Horseshoe arches.

Islamic influences?

• Golden pattern & decoration - inspiration from nature.

• Islamic calligraph.

What was the dome inspired by?

Great Mosque of Damascus

Byzantine influence?

Mosaic for decoration

Texture, pattern & ornamentation key points?

• Mosaic - upper walls & arches, featured calligraphy & natural vegetation - no human/animal figures allowed.

• Columns - granite, jasper & marble (luxurious stones of colour & pattern).

• Mihrab = marble & gold (image of paradise)

What were the red & white stripes on the arches?

• Voussoirs = wedge-shaped & tapered stones constructing arches.

• Alternating red & white stone bricks.

What was dome above the mihrab constructed with?

• Criss-crossing ribs that created pointed arches.

• Lavishly covered with gold mosaic - formed radical pattern.

During this time, what was the Arab control in Spain?

• 1st major Islamic building by Umayyad Dynasty after they fled to Spain from Syria via Tunisia.

• Abd del Rahman = only surviving Prince of massacre in Damascus - ruling Umayyads overthrown/killed by rival Abbasids.

• 755AD - Abd del Rahman founded (independent) Arabian empire in Spain.

What was important as Islamic art forbade depiction of holy imagery?

• Natural forms

• Geometry forming decoration.

According to the Qur’an:

• Idols = abomination

• Paradise was v beautiful & natural - mosque references nature extensively - Maqsura was v elaborate, rich & decorated.

What other buildings was the mosque inspired by?

1. Islamic building e.g. The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem in late 7th century.

   • Great Mosque, Damascus in 8th century.

2. Arab maths, geometry & astronomy - Islam originated in SA (every mosque based on Mohammed’s House, Medina).

Why were extensions added to the mosque?

• Cordoba expanding in 10th century.

• Cordoba = 2nd to Baghdad in importance to Islam.

• Focus on horizontals - references Islamic need to prostrate yourself infront of God.

Light in the prayer hall?

Facilitated by unique system of double arches.

Mosaic decoration context?

What did the Islamic inspiration of Mosques influence in in terms of painting?

Artists inspired:

• Gerome

• John Fredrick Lewis.

• Arab Hall in Leighton House, London.

Johnathan Glancey quote: prayer hall turned to cathedral?

“Spainards inserted a vulgar chapel into heart of the prayer hall”

Johnathan Glancey quote: arches & mihrab?

“Rhythm of the arches is broken only by the eye falling on the marble & gold mihrab”