Great Mosque of Mecca, mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, built to enclose the Ka‘bah, the holiest shrine in Islam. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 July 2014. A symbol and reminder to the world of the golden civilisation that Muslims built in Europe over one thousand years ago. The hypostyle hall in the Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain, is a classic example of this type of arch. I’ve been a history junkie since I was a kid and have had the opportunity to travel and see several historic places over the past few years. Great Mosque of Cordoba from the Air, photo: Ulamm, (CC BY-SA 3.0) Known locally as Mezquita-Catedral, the Great Mosque of Cordoba is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time Muslims ruled Al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia including most of Spain, Portugal, and a small section of Southern France) in the late 8th century. It had been defying precedents. Web. Córdoba's most famous monument, the Great Mosque, is located in this section of the city, where it was once connected to the Umayyad palace with a covered passage over the street (sabat). While this cathedral is striking and masterful, its inclusion caused incredible shock and dismay. Demirhan, Meryem. Examining the exteriors of each structure, you will immediately see some architectural differences. “Córdoba, Andalusia.” Wikipedia. It is an irreplaceable testimony of the Caliphate of Cordoba and it is the most emblematic monument of Islamic religious architecture. . . Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2013. 13 Nov. 2014. During this period, Cordoba was one of the most prosperous cities in Europe. Web. There are poly-lobed arches, horseshoe arches and interlacing horseshoe arches. “Umayyad Conquest of Hispania.” Wikipedia. This is one of the funnest history lesson have had and i am not usually one to sit down and read it, the buildings look amazing the photos are just captivating. Desiring the magnificent edifice for their new place of worship, the local bishop ritualistically cleansed the building and declared it a Catholic cathedral. Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe, n.d. It does not only represent the Muslim faith but is also an ancestor of other mosques in al-Andalus. One cannot visit Cordoba (in Spain) today without a trip to its main tourist attraction, The Great Mosque of Cordoba. Even now, it still holds an important place in the hearts of many. Over the next 600 years, many other changes would be made to the mosque to bring it more in line with Christian churches, but the biggest change of all happened almost immediately. Great Mosque of Cordoba. I wish we still made building like this. I have visited here! Wow! Architecture, from Prehistory to Post-modernism: The Western Tradition. “Islamic architecture is unique in the non-Western world in that it alone – not Buddhist, not Hindu, not Pre-Columbian – shares many of the forms and structural concerns of Byzantine, Medieval, and Renaissance architecture, having grown from identical roots in the ancient world” (Trachtenberg, 215). 12 Nov. 2014. “Córdoba: The City That Changed the World.” The Guardian. Print. Travel to Cordoba from Morocco. 13 Nov. 2014. Historical Significance. Web. Ross, Nancy. Aside from that feature, these two magnificent structures have various other similarities as well as several distinct differences. Spain: Then and Now, n.d. … Another key difference of the exterior is that Umayyad Mosque has three minarets while the Great Mosque of Cordoba only has one, though it does not appear like one anymore and we will go into the reason for that later. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is considered to be one of the most significant and monumental expressions of Islamic rule in Spain. Nuns visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba on October 14, 2014. The grand mosque of Cordoba is most notable for its giant arches and its forest of over 856 (of an original 1,293) columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is currently used as a Catholic church. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 June 2014. This created an innovative design that had never been seen before. What a beautiful structure! ... Cordoba’s significance. 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. The Cathedral Cordoba, n.d. Aside from putting a twist on the traditional style of bi-level arches, the Great Mosque of Cordoba utilized a wide variety of arch designs and placement. 13 Nov. 2014. While this cathedral is striking and masterful, its inclusion caused incredible shock and dismay. Upon seeing the completed structure for himself, Emperor Charles V is said to have declared, “they have taken something unique in all the world and destroyed it to build something you can find in any city” (Wikipedia). Van Der Zee, Bibi. (I was young and in high school and not quite as appreciative as I would be now, so it was fun to read all about it here!). Summarised extracts from a full article: I would definitely love to see it one day. Wow. Whereas the Umayyad Mosque uses arches mainly as a structural element, the Great Mosque of Cordoba uses arches as both structural and decorative elements. Cite this page as: Dr. Shadieh Mirmobiny, "The Great Mosque of Córdoba," in, Featured | Art that brings U.S. history to life, At-Risk Cultural Heritage Education Series. Too beautiful to be believed! Hello and welcome to my blog! The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. I didn’t see all of this because it is so huge, but what I saw was amazing! Trachtenberg, Marvin, and Isabelle Hyman. Along with sharing architectural elements and themes, the Great Mosque of Cordoba also follows the tradition of Umayyad Mosque in being built over the site of a local Christian church. In 1252, Alfonso X succeeded King Ferdinand III and received permission from the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to make the most extreme change of all: the insertion a full-sized Renaissance-style Catholic cathedral into the center of The Great Mosque of Cordoba, the removal of all but one minaret, and that one was converted into a bell tower. The Great Mosque of Cordoba The Great Mosque of Cordoba can be seen as “the earliest extant example of Andalusi architectural culture”[i]. 13 Nov. 2014. Only the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Great Mosque in Damascus had vertical, navelike designs. The original structure was built by the Umayyad ruler Ê¿Abd ar-Raḥmān I in 784–786 with extensions in the 9th and 10th centuries that doubled its size, ultimately making it one of the largest sacred buildings in the Islamic world. While the use of arches and columns was not unusual during and prior to the early-Christian era, the way the arches and columns were used in the Great Mosque of Cordoba was. This is one I had to research for my Art History class and hope to visit some day. Just, wow. 13 Nov. 2014. We believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. These were taken from the Roman temple which had previously occupied the site and other destroyed Roman buildings. Learn how your comment data is processed. Must be so amazing to see in person. And the history is quite fascinating. As the mihrab does not follow the the qibla direction, it has been proposed that this is because the Mezquita is built in reference to the old Roman Cardo (north-south thoroughfare). 2 Transverse Arch Upon seeing the completed structure for himself, Emperor Charles V is sa… Moving on to the interior, we see one of the more distinct elements of the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Cordoba Mihrab – Courtesy of Khan Academy. Gates, Sandra, and Megan Smith. Web. 13 Nov. 2014. . One reason is that the Great Mosque of Cordoba was built about 175 years after Islam began, making it one of the first mosques ever built. By order of Abd al-Rahman I, who purchased the Christian half of the Church of St. Vincent from the local congregation, the Church of St. Vincent was destroyed and a grand mosque put in its place. The Visigoths were settled on … The architecture is stunning and rich with history. Celebrated for its harmony, balance, dra-matic use of light and decoration, and its overall unity and aesthetic sensitivity, the monument belongs to an es- Web. Lecture. The Great Mosque of Cordoba did away with the common practice of putting tiered arches on separate and distinct levels by removing the separating plane from the structure and instead, extended the arch column up to support a second, freestanding arch. “Features and Characteristics.” Santa Iglesia Catedral De Córdoba. All rights reserved, Top 5 Reasons Why Travelers Should Be Living in Chicago, National Monuments to See In Washington, DC, Becoming A Travel Influencer: 5 Things to Know Before You Start, 10 Ways to Get Your Travel Fix When Stuck at Home, The Influence of Art on History, Part 3: Oliver Twist. The Great Mosque is amongst the oldest sites of continuous prayer since the beginnings of Islam and the fourth holiest mosque in the world. In 572 AD, Catholic Visigoths conquered Cordoba and began converting the Temple of Janus into a Christian church that they dedicated to St. Vincent. . What a spectacular building. The Great Mosque of Cordoba represents a unique artistic achievement due to its size and the sheer boldness of the height of its ceilings. In the southern half of Spain, in one of the oldest cities in the region, lies one of the most unique structures in religious history. 14 Nov. 2014. Amazing! Be sure to check for new posts on Mondays. In the 20th century it … The original Great Mosque of Cordoba was architecturally innovative for a number of reasons, though it did have features and characteristics that were common to that era. A few short years later, around 710 AD, Muslim forces overran Cordoba and seized control of the city. Capilla de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves y San Vicente Mártir. “Umayyad Mosque.” Wikipedia. I love all the little details at Cordoba and how unique it is. Bi-level arches had been used prior to the Great Mosque of Cordoba in Islamic, Christian and Roman structures such as the aqueduct bridges of Segovia and Pont du Gard, the Verona Arena, the Colosseum, the Great Mosque of Damascus, Dome of the Rock, the Basilica of San Vitale and Hagia Sophia. New York: H.N. That mosque is beautiful! Thank you so much for such an informative piece. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 09 May 2012. YouTube, 6 Dec. 2012. Can’t wait to do some traveling in the months to come, this is so inspiring! At Córdoba the earliest section of the Great Mosque was built in 785–786. I’m fascinated by this region of Spain since it has so many religious and cultural influences. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is a mixture of architectural styles superimposed on one another over the nine centuries its construction and renovations lasted. I can’t imagine being able to walk through it and take pictures of it, myself. Today the Mezquita de Cordoba (Cordoba Mosque) as it is comonly known (or the Cordoba Cathedralas it was kn… The great mosque at Cordoba is a breath-taking legacy of the Berber-Arab conquests in the Iberian Peninsula. Most of the arches have an alternating stone and red brick pattern while others are covered in mosaics. I had wondered about that from long. Standing in the historic centre, it is one of the most beautiful examples of Muslim art in Spain. The Great Mosque of Cordoba displays these patterns by way of mosaic, which was “the most lavish way to decorate” at that time (Ross). The development of the Great Mosque paralleled these new heights of splendour. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is such a fascinating and timeless piece of ancient history. As you can see, the Great Mosque of Cordoba is an architectural marvel that is both innovative and typical. Constructed over two centuries, work began on the Mezquita by the Emir of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman I in 784 AD. An interesting fact to note about the interlacing arches is that Islamic artists “[drew] from Christian traditions [and] a variety of traditions in creating their art [and] they also….mimic what we see in Christian art of the Romanesque period where we see a lot of interlacing arches and that’s very unusual” (Ross). For centuries Rome ruled the area that they named Hispania Ulterior Baetica, of which Cordoba was the capital. The Mezquita (Mosque) dates back to the 10th century when Córdoba reached its zenith under a new emir, Abd ar-Rahman III who was one of the great rulers of Islamic history. And interesting point about Islamic architecture using floral motifs!! Gorgeous pictures! Web. Córdoba is a two hour train ride south of Madrid, and draws visitors from all over the world. Fought over for centuries by Christians and Muslims alike, the Great Mosque of Cordoba will forever be a place that stands for the harmony of artistic, architectural and religious traditions. My goodness, just looking at the photos of this spectacular place thrills me to pieces. Wow! Columns had been used for centuries in buildings such as the Parthenon and many early Christian basilica-styles church, but what makes the columns in the Great Mosque of Cordoba so special is that the number of them, 856, is “the most columns in any single building ever” (Ross). xo Caitlin. . . . My parents took me here when I was little as we travelled throughout Spain every year during the summer. . Hopefully you will enjoy the beauty and the culture of the places I’ve seen as much as I do. N.p., 26 May 2013. © Copyright 2020 Traveling Thru History. My hubby would really love to spend hours here photographing every bit! Thank you for reading my blog! West wall, from north to south: Capilla de San Ambrosio. “The Great Mosque of Damascus.” Academia.edu. Capilla de San Agustín. Witcombe, Christopher L.C.E. One of the most memorable and influential buildings of Islamic Spain was the Great Mosque of Cordoba, built between the 8 th and 10 th centuries, and in its time considered a wonder of the world by both Muslims and Christians. The history of the Mosque of Cordoba can be traced back as far as the Visigoths, an ancient Germanic people. In 1236 C.E., immediately after the fall of Cordoba this magnificent mosque was converted into a Catholic church. Over the next two decades, with the intent to recreate his birth city of Damascus, al-Rahman worked to design a mosque that would rival the Great Mosque of Damascus while incorporating local styles and elements. Web. Thank you for sharing your very informative post! It is also the only mosque in the world to be visited by a pope when Pope John Paul II came to Damascus in 2001 and visited the relics of St. John the Baptist in the mosque. “Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain.” YouTube. Known locally as Mezquita-Catedral, the Great Mosque of Córdoba is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time Muslims ruled Al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia including most of Spain, Portugal, and a small section of Southern France) in the late 8th century. Historical treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is the subject of a … The Meaning of the Great Mosque of Cordoba in the Tenth Century. The placement of multiple rows of arches in the layout of a church was something that was very common. I want to visit Cordoba so badly! Exterior similarities between the two mosques include the elaborately decorative doors with artistic elements around the doors, though the specific artistic styles differ; Umayyad Mosque utilizes stained glass while the Great Mosque of Cordoba displays intricately designed mosaics. We created Smarthistory to provide students around the world with the highest-quality educational resources for art and cultural heritage—for free. Web. The Muslim invasion of the Cordoba peninsula took place in 711 AD. An interconnected world is not as recent as we think. These other structures had a distinct separation of arches because the second or third sets of arches were usually on a second or third floor of the building. The Great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is the most important Islamic monument in the West, and one of the world’s most amazing sites. Khan Academy, n.d. The ideas for these different designs and their decoration came from Visigothic, Byzantine, Christian and Islamic styles. “Great Mosque of Cordoba.” 13 Nov. 2014. It’s truly very beautiful and a lovely place to visit too! “Umayyad Mosque & The Great Mosque of Córdoba.” YouTube. This, though, is the last feature which the Great Mosque of Cordoba and Umayyad Mosque have in common. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. What wasn’t common was using a variety of designs for those arches. 13 Nov. 2014. Mirmobiny, Shadieh. By the time the Great Mosque of Cordoba was finally completed over 200 years later, it had become the most innovative Islamic Mosque in the world. The building is a visual reflection of symbols of the Muslim culture. This is right up my alley. Such an interesting history and magnificent structure. I’m a architecture fan and that mosque looks spectacular. “Historic Centre of Cordoba.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Capilla de la Concepción de Salizanes o del Santísimo Sacramento. And I’m sure it’s even more amazing in person. To examine fully whether or not the Great Mosque of Cordoba was truly an innovative masterpiece, let us compare it to the other prominent Islamic structure of that time: The Great Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Umayyad Mosque. The use of banded arches, spoliated columns with Corinthian capitals and hypostyles arches … . . It includes several elements of architecture and style that were typical of the period when it was created, but it also has several elements that were innovative and unique. . The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is the most important monument of all the Western Islamic world, and one of the most amazing in the world. First, it was a temple built by the Romans, next it was converted to a Catholic church by the Visigoths and then it became an Islamic mosque built by Abd al-Rahman I in 784 AD before being altered in a way that has never been done before or since. . Known locally as Mezquita-Catedral, the Great Mosque of Cordoba is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time Muslims ruled Al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia including most of Spain, Portugal, and a small section of Southern France) in the late eighth century. 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