D.003 Sidi Sahib Zawiya-Madrasa Complex

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Creator

Denis Baly

Creation Year

January 1963

Image ID

D.003

Alternate Identifier

B04.003

Subcollection

D: North Africa

Abstract

The entrance to the mausoleum in the previous image leads to a "wide courtyard [seen here] of the type commonly seen in al-Andalus. This is flanked by two porticoes whose Moorish arches, typically Kairouanese, rest on neo-Corinthian capitals with crescent moons, the emblem of the Ottomans, carved in relief.

Description

This patio leads to a hall surmounted with a dome [partially visible here] mounted on squinches decorated with stucco panels representing the Hispano-Moorish repertoire." The complex is named after and "built in memory of a companion of the Prophet, Abu Zama'a al-Balawi, who died in combat in the year AH 34 (AD 654)." Abu Zama'a, whose mausoleum lies within the complex, was "known affectionately as Sidi Sahbi and considered to be the patron of the town ... His mausoleum is the one most visited by the Tunisians, who flock there during the Festival of Mulud to commemorate the birth of the Prophet." In this picture, we can see the northwestern corner of the courtyard that precedes the entrance to the mausoleum and its elegant Hispano-Moorish minaret. -MA

References

Zangar, Saloua. "Sidi Sahib Zawiya and Madrasa" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2017. 2017. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;tn;Mon01;10;en

Image Notes

Creation date unknown. Photograph processed September 1963. Formerly cataloged as B.04.003. Notes written on the slide or index: Zaouiat Sidi Sahab.

Curator Notes

Legacy Subcollection: "D: Kairouan"

Image Format

35 mm slide

Geographic Reference

Kairouan, Tunisia