CR.047 Cordoba Mezquita

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Creator

Denis Baly

Creation Year

1974

Image ID

CR.047

Alternate Identifier

B49.128

Subcollection

CR: Southeast Spain

Abstract

A close-up image of the right part of the horse-shoe arch that frames the Puerta Del Perdon (“Door of Forgiveness") – an entrance to the Mosque of Cordoba along its north facade. It is located at the base of the minaret and bell tower of the cathedral in the mosque. The arch over the entrance is adorned by intricate plasterwork of floral motifs and has a coat of arms on either side, fixed between two bands of inscription.

Description

The Great Mosque of Cordoba is considered to be the one of the most remarkable monuments of Umayyad Spain and a masterpiece of medieval architecture. It was built in several phases, beginning with Abd al-Rahman I (784-86), and with perhaps the most significant additions by al-Hakam II. The present courtyard of the hypostyle mosque depicts the ‘forest of columns’ that this building is so famous for. One of the most important innovations was the use of double-tiered arches, which elegantly supported the roof and increased the height as well. Jerilynn Dodds has described the effect of this in equally powerful words: “…the columns that support the hypostyle hall explode into a labyrinthine elevation of superimposed horseshoe shaped arches composed of voussoirs in which deep red brick and white stone alternate. This carnivalesque solution converts a basic building type that is repetitious and by nature somewhat monotonous into a wild three-dimensional maze, a hall of mirrors in which the constant echo of arches and unruly staccato of colors confuse the viewer…” – SK

Image Notes

Photograph created March 1974. Photograph processed June 1974. Formerly catalogued as B49.128. Notes written on the slide or index: Cordoba, Mezquita, gateways and walls.

Image Format

Article

Geographic Reference

Córdoba, Spain