Built by uqba ibn nafi, an arab general, around 680 ad it is also called the mosque of. Great mosque of kairouan, tunisia stock image image of park. Four iwans, or recessed porches, with immense pointed arches, constitute the arms of the cross. 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. The first mosque constructed on this site in kairouan, tunisia was commissioned by uqba ibn nafi in 670. Great mosque of kairouan kairouan, tunisia atlas obscura.
Within the maze of the medina is the most impressive and largest monument in north africa, the uqba mosque. 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. It is the oldest muslim place of worship in africa and is commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in islam after. 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. Early islamic art and mosque architecture introduction 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.
The medina of kairouan, one of the most revered islamic cities in north africa, is also one of the oldest in all of islam. The great mosque of samarra, otherwise known as the great mosque of almutawakkil, was once one of the largest mosques in the world. The mosque of uqba or great mosque is located in the nordeast of the fortified surrounding wall of the medina of kairouan fig. Door of the minaret of the great mosque of kairouan uqba ibn nafi mosque built 670 ce kairouan unesco world heritage centre, tunisia. Soon after this mosque, charlemagne built his palace at aachen. Interior view of the prayer hall of the great mosque of kairouan, in tunisia. But the mosque at kairouan was much grander than anything being built in northern europe at this time. The great mosque of kairouan is a singular monument, its perfect harmony masking a unique architectural syncretism. Considered one of the most beautiful mosques in the country, this is a splendid example of islamic architecture, classified as a unesco world heritage site. In the textbook the western humanities chapter eight covers the world of islam and the great. The geometric technique of construction of the golden section seems to have determined the major decisions of the spatial organisation. Established in 670 by oqba ibn nafeu at the founding of kairouan, the mosque was destroyed about 690 by. He proposed to his troops to found a city which might serve him as a camp, and be a rallying point for islamism till the end of time.
Old pattern sky stone style top tradition traditional travel tunisia vacation view. Its rich architectural heritage includes the great mosque, with its marble and porphyry columns, and the 9thcentury mosque of the three gates. Although the original building dated to the muslim conquest of tunisia 7th century the present. In the medina, kairouan, tunisia date of the monument. You must visit the great mosque which makes the visit to kairouan worthwhile on its own, non muslims are not admitted to the prayer hall but you can still take in the architecture on the. Research that the golden section applied to a mosque found around 670 m may be used as a guide. Established in 670 ad at the founding of the city of kairouan, the mosque. The golden section appears repeatedly in some part of the building measurements. Sultan hassan mosque commentary the medresa of sultan hassan at cairo. Great mosque of kairouan, tunisia stock photo image of. The great mosque of kairouan was a public structure, set along roads that served a city with a vibrant commercial, educational, and religious life. Due to its age and its architectural features, the minaret of the great mosque of kairouan is the prototype for all the minarets of the western islamic world.
The mosque is spread over a surface area of 9,000 square meters. 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. Great mosque of kairouan mosque, kairouan, tunisia britannica. 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 islamic world. The sidi amor abada museum the raqqada national museum of islamic art the great mosque of kairouan the sidi abid alghariani mausoleum the aghlabid basins. Great mosque of kairouan, tunisia the great mosque in the town of kairouan in tunisia great mosque of kairouan in tunisia general view of the great mosque of kairouan, tunisia the great mosque of kairouan in tunisia great mosque of. Completed in 852, it was used until the end of the 11th century. Kairouan qairouan, great mosque art and architectural.
The islamic governors of tunisia built the great mosque at kairouan in the 800s ad, in the time of the abbasid empire. Great mosque of kairouan, tunisia stock image image of. Ljxuh arial view of kairouan great mosque or mosque of uqba in. The great mosque in the town of kairouan in tunisia general view of the great mosque of kairouan. Jul 23, 2010 the great mosque of kairouan is constituted of a massive square minaret, a large courtyard surrounded by porticos and a huge hypostyle prayer hall covered on its axis by two cupolas. The dome is an architectural element borrowed from roman and byzantine architecture. A stamp printed in tunisia shows arabesque ornamentation from great mosque at kairouan, circa 1947.
Indeed, the building materials used for its construction all came from. The geometrical analysis conducted reveals very clearly a consistent application of the golden section. Established in 670 ad at the founding of the city of kairouan, the mosque occupies a surface area of 9000 square meters and it is one of the oldest places of worship in the islamic world. The great mosque of kairouan is constituted of a massive square minaret, a large courtyard surrounded by porticos and a huge hypostyle prayer hall covered on its axis by two cupolas.
Every city in tunisia has a great mosque, but the great mosque in kairouan is the most important of all. Great mosque of kairouan discover islamic art museum with no. Kairouan from unesco arts and humanities art of the islamic world early period. A tour of islamic architecture freelance developer blog. He proposed to his troops to found a city which might serve. The great mosque at kairouan inherited the site of the first muslim oratory in the. The great mosque of samarra in iraq, completed in 847 ad, combined the hypostyle architecture of rows of columns supporting a flat base above which a huge. It has served as a model for others, such as the zaytuna mosque located in tunis. The great mosque in the town of kairouan in tunisia general view of the great mosque of kairouan, tunisia the great mosque of kairouan in tunisia great mosque of kairouan in tunisia, north africa, unesco world heritage ouled farhane. 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. Discover great mosque of kairouan in kairouan, tunisia. Mosque lamp, 14th century, egypt or syria, blown glass, enamel, gilding, 31. This building is considered the first muslim oratory in.
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. Great mosque of kairouan mosque, kairouan, tunisia. Great mosque of kairouan tunisia tunisia circa 1947. As such, it assumed the important function of representing. Thirteen centuries of art and architecture in tunisia, pp. 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. Architectural models of the great mosque of kairouan. In 670 in kairouan was built the first mosque, to north africa of muslim arabs shortly after the arrival. Mihrab left and minbar right, interior view of the dome, great mosque of kairouan the dome is an architectural element borrowed from roman and byzantine architecture. The great mosque of kairouan, also called the mosque of uqba, is one of the most important mosques in tunisia, it is. The sanctuary is 7 by 37 meters and there are 17 naves and 8 bays. Morphometric method of daylight factor kairouan great. Kairouan qairouan, great mosque art and architectural history. 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.
The great mosque the great minaret at kairouan kerouan was founded by uqba ibn nafi in the fiftieth year of the hejira a. The fluted dome above the mihrab is supported by decorated stone squinches. Great mosque of kairouan, tunisia the great mosque in the town of kairouan in tunisia great mosque of kairouan in tunisia general view of the great mosque of kairouan. By richard robinette i choose the great mosque of kairouan, tunisia as my architecture piece. In kairouan the great mosque was built in stages between 836 and 866. The use of the golden section in the great mosque at kairouan. The great mosque in kairouan is one of the more important of the early congregational mosques. Media in category great mosque of kairouan the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. Voir plus didees sur le theme mosquee bleue, dessin architecture et kairouan.
Great mosque, kairouan, tunisia 9th century the great mosque at kairouan consists of a columnar prayer hall with two domes facing south toward mecca, an arcaded forecourt resembling a roman. Interior of the prayer room, great mosque, the medina. Great mosque of kairouan 3d model available on turbo squid, the worlds leading provider of digital 3d models for visualization, films, television, and games. The geometry analysis of the mosque was first performed at the great mosque of kairouan, in tunisia. Mosque of uqba plan of kairouan one of the oldest places of worship in the islamic world, as well as a model for all later mosques. Hotels near mosque sidi sahbi mosque of the barber hotels near bassins aghlabites. Due to its age and its architectural features, the minaret of the great mosque of kairouan is the prototype for all the. The mosque of uqba, also known as the great mosque of kairouan, is one of the most important mosques in tunisia, situated in the unesco world heritage town of kairouan.
Oct 24, 2011 the first mosque was established in medina where it was used for many different functions. The geometric technique of construction of the golden section seems to have. Restored starting in 1962, the mosque is considered one of the most prestigious religious monuments in the country. 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. Although the original building dated to the muslim conquest of tunisia 7th century the present building dates to 836, with subsequent work done in 862, the early 11th century and 1294. There is a minimum of decoration, and the walls of the 100ft sahn rise skywards with splendid architectural. This was the same time as the reign of charlemagne.
The mosque has aghlabid architecture and appears as a fortress on a hill. The architecture of the future mosque was the subject of a special seminar organized by the abdullatif al fozan award for mosque architecture afama and the library of alexandria last. Architectural and historical jewels like this are relatively unknown in the west, so we want to share it with everyone. Great mosque, kairouan, tunisia 9th century the great mosque at kairouan consists of a columnar prayer hall with two domes facing south toward mecca, an arcaded forecourt resembling a roman forum, and a minaret to call muslims to worship of hypostyle design, it most closely reflects the mosque s supposed precursor, muhammads house in medina. By the founder of kairouan it was built, he was the sidi. These functions ranged from religious, judicial, political and social gatherings which showed the basic idea of islam as the unity of life. Description is available under license ccbysa igo 3.
Despite the transfer of the political capital to tunis in the 12th century, kairouan remained the maghrebs principal holy city. The great mosque of kairouan is founded in dc 670 as the first mosque in africa. The small windows in the drum of the dome above the mihrab space let. Kairouan flourished under the aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century. The great mosque, also known as the uqba mosque, is at the heart of the citys heritage. Great mosque of kairouan, tunisia highquality architecture.
It is found in the overall proportion of the plan and in the dimensioning. The great mosque of kairouan, also known as the mosque of uqba, is one of the most important mosques in. May 31, 2015 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. In 863 by the emir abou ibrahim ahmad was built the current mosque. The great mosque of kairouan or sidi okba mosque kairouan, tunisia is one of the most important mosques in tunisia. The great mosque of kairouan has influenced north african architecture. Commenting on the interior of the prayer hall, the islamic historian paul sebag the great mosque of kairouan says. Ljxuh arial view of kairouan great mosque or mosque of uqba in tunisia. Founded in 670, this ancient mosque is an architectural time portal. Great mosque of kairouan ars artistic adventure of mankind.
Kairouan rehabilitation program minaret of the great mosque of. The city of kairouan, tunisia, has long been the maghreb s most ancient and holy city, a key gathering place for arabomuslim civilization. Morphometric method of daylight factor kairouan great mosque case. The great mosque of kairouan was built in the ninth century by emir abou ibrahim ahmad and constructed of stone. You must visit the great mosque which makes the visit to kairouan worthwhile on its own, non muslims are not admitted to the prayer hall but you can still take in the architecture on the outside and through the doors to the prayer hall that are left open. With the wide yard in the middle, this mosque is worth to visit. All of the resources of islamic ornamentation, carved or painted, have been lavished here on marble, stone, pottery, or wood. The small windows in the drum of the dome above the mihrab space let natural light into what was an otherwise dim interior. View of the great mosque of kairouan from a rooftop, tunisia. Great mosque of kairouan kairouan mosque, landmark. The great mosque of kairouan, in tunisia not pictured has three domes. Its most striking feature is the formal emphasis on the buildings tlike axis punctuated by.