Cordoba

Introduction
With the establishment of Abd al-Rahman III -
“the great caliphate of Cordova” - came the golden age of Al-Andalus.
Cordova, in southern Spain, was the intellectual center of Europe.
half a million inhabitants,
living in 113,000 houses.
700 mosques and
300 public baths spread throughout the city and its twenty-one suburbs.
The streets were paved and lit.” (Burke, 1985, p. 38)
“The houses had marble balconies for summer and
hot-air ducts under the mosaic floors for the winter.
adorned with gardens with artificial fountains and orchards”.

Knowledge and Education Progress
“Paper, a material still unknown to the west, was everywhere.
There were bookshops and
more than 70 seventy big libraries.”
During the end of the first millennium,
Cordova was the intellectual well from which European humanity came to drink.
Students from France and England traveled there to learn philosophy, science and medicine .
In the great library of Cordova alone, there were some 600,000 manuscripts .
With its 113,000 houses, 21 suburbs, seventy big libraries and numerous colleges,
mosques, palaces, parks and gardens it had acquired international reputation.
With its well-illuminated streets, Cordova provided a striking contrast to the European cities and according to John William Draper,

Whenever the Christian rulers of European States needed an artist,
physician or technical hand, they applied to the Cordova Government.
"The fame of the Muslim Capital penetrated as far as the distant Germany
where a Saxon nun (Hrosvitha) styled it as 'The Jewel of the World'.'
The great social and cultural progress of Cordova inspired awe and admiration in the hearts of European travellers"
When the student of the University of Oxford abhorred baths as custom the Moors enjoyed baths in luxurious establishments.



The Grand Mosque of Cordova:


Most important monument of muslim rule:
Begun by Abdur Rehman 1 in 786.
Completed by his son hisham 1 793.
Further enlarged by their successors.

Area 620ft by 440 ft.

Enclosed by high buttressed wall pierced by 21 horseshoe archways.

Courtyard on north
Prayer chamber on south.
The building is most notable for its arcaded

Hypostyle hall,

Ceilings of carved wood painted colourfully.
with 1293 columns of marble, and granite.
Dome like a China Bowl.
Octagonal Mahrab decorated with Mosaic decoration.
Pulpit (standing point)of 3600 pieces of ivory and timbers,precious stones,gold nail.
The walls with Quranic inscriptions written on them.


Combined assimilated

Coloumns of Roman
Capitals of African.
Arches of Syrian desighns.
Mosaic of Byzantine


Abd-er-Rahman III added a new tower.

The minaret is 27 by 108 ft high four-faced,
with fourteen windows,
During his rule 10000 lamps lighted.
having arches upon jasper columns,
and the structure is adorned with tracery
The minaret contained two staircases,
which were built for the separate ascent and descent of the tower.

On the summit there were three apples,
two of gold and one of silver, with lilies of six petals.
Roof of Cordova mosque was made of silver plates.
300 servants looked after

The double arches were a new introduction to architecture, permitting higher ceilings than would otherwise be possible with relatively low columns.

The double arches consist of a lower horseshoe arch and an upper semi-circular arch.

The famous alternating red and white voussoirs of the arches were inspired by those in the Dome of the Rock.
A centrally located honey-combed dome has blue tiles decorated with stars.
The edifice also has a richly gilded prayer niche or mihrab.
The mihrab is a masterpiece of architectural art, with geometric and flowing designs of plants.

Other prominent features were:

an open court (sahn)
tile work, calligraphy and architectural forms.
Marbles of spotless white were chosen for the columns.


Alcazar (Seville)
Built by Muwahhidin ruler
Noteworthy for its profuse and graceful decoration.
Ambassador Hall
Maidens courtyard are most beautiful parts of palace.


Zahra Palace

(Cordova) four miles Built BY (ARIII)
It was built in memory of beloved queen zahraPalace
Harem
Mansions & terraces.
Area 100 acres
City wall 1500 gates.
Took 25 years to complete.
Cost 300000 Dirhams ARIII
Wild trees of surroundings replaced by fruit & flower plants
Marble pillars
Octagonal roof Golden tiles.
Throne room was of gold & silver.
In middle decorated pool Shone brightly.
Golden pictures of birds and animals embellished the palace.

Al Hamra(Granada)

Nasirid palace:Built by nasirid ruler Muhammad I (1232-72)
Build on Red Hilly terrace natural surrounding.
Enlarged and beautified by successors
Multicoloured Walls of hall richly decorated.
Most beautiful part
Court of lions(plaster walls)
Look like carpets
Capital of coloumns embellished with ornaments.
Floor with many coloured tiles.
Its colour changed according to son position.
12 marbel Lions in circle supporting fountain in center of the court.
Pouring water through their mouth.
Ceiling depictsscenes of cavalry & hunting painted.
Two sisters hall of two marble slabs.
Finest rooms facing landscape of Sierra Nevada & Surroundings.



Giralda (Seville)

Massive Giralda tower of Seville
43ft square by 300 ft height.
Instead of stairs ramps were there.
7ft thick walls pierced by windows and capitals.
Built by abu Yaqub Yusuf(1172-1195)
Used as observatory for astronomers and minaret for the Mosque.