The great mosque of kairouan is recognized as one of the most significant religious places in islam. The great mosque of kairouan, also known as the mosque of uqba, is one of the most important mosques in. 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. Great mosque of kairouan mosque, kairouan, tunisia britannica. 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. 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. It is surmounted by rounded merlons, in use in ifriqiya since antiquity, attested as early assyrian architecture. Great mosque of kairouan kairouan, tunisia atlas obscura.
The use of the golden section in the great mosque at kairouan. Uqbah in the 7th century, the present mosque is the fifth mosque built on the site and dates from aghlabid times. The founder of kairouan, uqba ibn nafi, built a small mosque on the site in ad 670. The great mosque at kairouan, islamic, tunisia, begun 670 form and function of mosques two of the five pillars of islam is to pray five times a day toward. But the mosque at kairouan was much grander than anything being built in northern europe at this time. Architecture, 94, on the basis of an early eleventhcentury text that states that the. The great mosque of kairouan great mosque of sidiuqba is considered as one of the most important monuments of islamic civilization as well as a worldwide architectural masterpiece. In the 20th century it was significantly enlarged by the saudi government. 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. Old pattern sky stone style top tradition traditional travel tunisia vacation view vintage wall white window wood medina roof terrace great mosque. View of the great mosque of kairouan from a rooftop, tunisia. 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. Mohammad adnan bakhit, history of humanity, routledge, 2000, page 345 paul sebag, op.
Soon after this mosque, charlemagne built his palace at aachen. It is the oldest muslim place of worship in africa and is commonly regarded as the fourth holiest. 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. The vast complex boasts fortresslike walls enclosing a prayer hall and a huge marble courtyard. The marble panels in the mihrab of the great mosque of kairouan. 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 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. Research that the golden section applied to a mosque found around 670 m may be used as a guide. Outside the town is the zawiyah seat of a religious fraternity of read more. In kairouan acres 30 hectares contains the great mosque, with a 115foot 35metre high minaret. Great mosque of mecca, mosque in mecca, saudi arabia, built to enclose the kabah, the holiest shrine in islam. Great mosque of kairouan, tunisia highquality architecture. 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.
Several centuries after its founding, the great mosque of kairouan is the subject of numerous descriptions by arab historians and geographers in the middle ages. 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. Visit the great mosque of kairouan on your trip to.
In 670 in kairouan was built the first mosque, to north africa of muslim arabs shortly after the arrival. 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. Dating back to 670 ce, the great mosque of kairouan represents one of the oldest and most influential places of worship in the muslim world. The great mosque of kairouan or sidi okba mosque kairouan, tunisia is one of the most important mosques in tunisia. 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. 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. As you wander the grounds of the great mosque of kairouan in tunisia you are treading across over a millennia of history. Great mosque of kairouan kairouan mosque, landmark. 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. Reused roman slabs with latin engravings serve as a testament. We recommend booking the great mosque of kairouan tours ahead of time to secure your spot. In kairouan the great mosque was built in stages between 836 and 866. See all 14 the great mosque of kairouan tours on tripadvisor.
The magnificent structure the oldest muslim place of worship in africa. From the outside, the great mosque of kairouan is a fortresslike building, which required as much by its massive ocher walls of 1. Interior view of the prayer hall of the great mosque of kairouan, in tunisia. Great mosque of kairouan mosque, kairouan, tunisia. 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. Great mosque of kairouan ars artistic adventure of mankind. Every city in tunisia has a great mosque, but the great mosque in kairouan is the most important of all. This mosque, the oldest and most prestigious sanctuary in the muslim west, is built over a seventhcentury oratory renovated in 703.
Great mosque of kairouan discover islamic art museum with no. Founded by arab general uqba ibn nafi in 670 ce, the present aspect of the mosque dates from the 9th century. 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. Although contemporary scholars, armed with copies of books on islamic. The mosque, as it stands today, was built by the aghlabid governor of kairouan, ziyadat allah, between 817 and 838. Visit the great mosque of kairouan on your trip to kairouan. 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. The great mosque in kairouan is one of the more important of the early congregational mosques. This location corresponded originally to the heart of the urban fabric of the city.
See all 15 the great mosque of kairouan tours on tripadvisor. Book your tickets online for the great mosque of kairouan, kairouan. The great mosque of kairouan is a singular monument, its perfect harmony masking a unique architectural syncretism. The mosque is spread over a surface area of 9,000 square meters. In 863 by the emir abou ibrahim ahmad was built the current mosque. Established by the arab general uqba ibn nafi in 670 the year 50 according to the islamic calendar at the founding of the city of kairouan, the mosque is spread over a. Sahn courtyard and minaret, great mosque of kairouan, tunisia c. Kairouan flourished under the aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century. Informal and openair places of worship are called musalla, while mosques. Restored starting in 1962, the mosque is considered one of the most prestigious religious monuments in the country.
The geometry analysis of the mosque was first performed at the great mosque of kairouan, in tunisia. 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. It can also be referred to as mosque of uqba ibn nafi, in honor of its. The founding father of kairouan, uqba ibn nafi, constructed a small mosque on the location in ad 670. Great mosque of kairouan islamic art and architecture. Kairouan qairouan, great mosque art and architectural. 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. 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. 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. 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. The great mosque of kairouan was a public structure, set along roads that served a city with a vibrant commercial, educational, and religious life.
Price new from used from hardcover, import please retry. The sidi oqba mosque, or great mosque, is the oldest and most impressive muslim place of worship in north africa and is islams fourth holiest site after mecca, medina, and jerusalem. In the period of caliph muawiya reigned 661680, it became an important centre for sunni islamic scholarship and quranic learning, and thus attracting many. 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 islamic governors of tunisia built the great mosque at kairouan in the 800s ad, in the time of the abbasid empire. It is the oldest muslim place of worship in africa and is commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in islam after. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Great mosque of kairouan this minaret, the oldest conserved in the maghreb, stands in the middle of the north portico of the courtyard. This was the same time as the reign of charlemagne. The great mosque at kairouan, islamic, tunisia, begun 670 form and function of mosques two of the five pillars of islam is to pray five times a day toward mecca, and to try to make a pilgrimage to mecca. The stories concern mainly the different phases of construction and expansion of the sanctuary, and the successive contributions of many princes to the interior decoration mihrab, minbar, ceilings, etc. Great mosque of samarra samarra, iraq atlas obscura. Geographer albakri attributed its construction to the reign of the umayyad caliph hicham ibn abd almalik r.
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