ARCHITECTURE
Al-Andalus had many grand works of architecture in its day, some of which still stand to this day. The Grand Mosque of Córdoba, originally constructed in the late 8th century; the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz constructed in 999; Seville’s Giralda erected in 1184, once the minaret of the Almohad Mosque, now a Cathedral Tower; and Granada’s Alhambra built between 1238 and 1358 are all wonderful examples of Islamic innovation, architecture, art and beauty. And like Jerrilynn Dodds, for the purpose of this research the focus will be on the Royal Palace of the Alhambra at Granada and the Great Mosque of Córdoba, both of which she claims to be great examples of medieval Islamic art. She goes on to later by saying the Great Mosque of Córdoba represents “the establishment of a place of worship that aided the formation of a Spanish Muslim identity in a remote Western land,” and the Alhambra at Granada is an “extravagant vision of one of the last Islamic palaces built to serve al-Andalus, in the face of the fall of Islamic Spain.”(26) Each constructed at different times and stages in Islamic rule of the Iberian Peninsula, yet each powerfully embodying Islamic thought, beauty and innovation.
THE GREAT MOSQUE OF CÓRDOBA
The Great Mosque at Córdoba, as stated previously was initially constructed in the late 8th century and is the oldest remaining structure on the peninsula. The Mosque stands as a virtuous form of purity, the architectural archetype of their diverse cultures: that of the Muslim Andalusian, Christian Spain, and the Hebrew Sephardi.(27) The architecture takes pieces from all over Europe, Africa and Asia, mixing Visigoth, Roman and Arab architectures to create a masterpiece.(28) For example, W. Montgomery Watt highlights that “the horse-shoe arch which is used throughout is now known to been taken over from Visigothic Architecture; but the doubling of the arches to give extra height—possibly suggested by Roman aqueducts—is something new.”(29) And, Umayyad Prince Abd al-Rahman I, said of the mosque “it embodied what came before, illuminated what came after”(30), a marvelous feat of architectural genius.
Beginning with the ruler Abdurrahman I, later finished by his son and successor, al-Hisham II, and later elaborated on and enlarged by subsequent caliphs of Córdoba. The mosque stands six hundred and twenty feet long from north to south, and four hundred and forty feet wide from east to west. Originally surrounded by surface streets, each with access to one or more of the twenty-one separate doors for the population to gain access to worship. Of these twenty-one doors only five remain, due to various construction add ons throughout the years by St. Ferdinand III and later Charles V.(31)
In 1236, after his conquest of Córdoba, St. Ferdinand III of Castile, had the mosque converted into a cathedral, not demolishing for the recognition of its stature, beauty and power over the city. Thus preserving to its original state until 1528,when under Charles V, the Spanish slowly began to add to it even further, thus changing it more effectively into a temple for celebrating Christianity.(32) This is how it predominantly stands to this day. Arab architectural designs after this point were transferred into numerous other cathedrals. It can be seen in the archways and ornate stone work inside and out. This can be see in examples such as the Cathedral of Monreale, Italy.
Beginning with the ruler Abdurrahman I, later finished by his son and successor, al-Hisham II, and later elaborated on and enlarged by subsequent caliphs of Córdoba. The mosque stands six hundred and twenty feet long from north to south, and four hundred and forty feet wide from east to west. Originally surrounded by surface streets, each with access to one or more of the twenty-one separate doors for the population to gain access to worship. Of these twenty-one doors only five remain, due to various construction add ons throughout the years by St. Ferdinand III and later Charles V.(31)
In 1236, after his conquest of Córdoba, St. Ferdinand III of Castile, had the mosque converted into a cathedral, not demolishing for the recognition of its stature, beauty and power over the city. Thus preserving to its original state until 1528,when under Charles V, the Spanish slowly began to add to it even further, thus changing it more effectively into a temple for celebrating Christianity.(32) This is how it predominantly stands to this day. Arab architectural designs after this point were transferred into numerous other cathedrals. It can be seen in the archways and ornate stone work inside and out. This can be see in examples such as the Cathedral of Monreale, Italy.
CATHEDRAL OF MONREALE, ITALY
THE ALHAMBRA AT GRANADA
Granada’s Alhambra was built between 1238 and 1358 as an addition to an existing fortress built in the 9th century Alcazaba. It was named after its reddish walls, which in Arabic is “qa'lat al-Hamra” or Alhambra meaning the “Red Castle”.(33) The fortress is located at a strategic military point at the top of the hill al-Sabika on the left bank of the River Darro, just west of the city of Granada, with a view of the whole city and surrounding areas.(34) Much of the early construction was carried out under Mohammed II (1273-1302), and Mohammed III (1302-1309). However, a majority of the construction, and what remains today, was carried out under Yusuf I (1333-1353) and Mohammed V (1353-1391).(35) This was a master fortress in addition to a beautiful palace for the Caliphs of Granada. It is noted that, once under Catholic monarch Charles V, some portions were ordered to be demolished in-order for new places to be constructed that would bear his name. However, despite the portions which had been demolished, Charles V kept a majority of the old fortress because of its sheer beauty with its towers and grand gardens as well as its military prowess.
26 Dodds. "The Arts of Al-Andalus." In The Legacy of Muslim Spain, 618. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1992.
27 Lewis, David L. God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570 to 1215. New York, New York: W.W. Norton, 2008. 273.
28 Ibid.
29 Watt, A History of Islamic Spain, 66.
30 Lewis, God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570 to 1215, 275.
31 Murphy, James Cavanah. "The Mosque of Cordova « Islamic Arts and Architecture." Islamic Arts and Architecture. March 31, 2012. Accessed March 24, 2015. http://islamic-arts.org/2012/mosque-of-cordova/.
32 Ibid.
33 "The Alhambra." Alhambra De Granada. Accessed March 24, 2015. http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/historicalintroduction.asp
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.
27 Lewis, David L. God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570 to 1215. New York, New York: W.W. Norton, 2008. 273.
28 Ibid.
29 Watt, A History of Islamic Spain, 66.
30 Lewis, God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570 to 1215, 275.
31 Murphy, James Cavanah. "The Mosque of Cordova « Islamic Arts and Architecture." Islamic Arts and Architecture. March 31, 2012. Accessed March 24, 2015. http://islamic-arts.org/2012/mosque-of-cordova/.
32 Ibid.
33 "The Alhambra." Alhambra De Granada. Accessed March 24, 2015. http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/historicalintroduction.asp
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.