Medina Azahara

Madinat al -Zahra Medina Azahara or مدينة الزهراء / madīnatu ʾ ʾ z -Zahra /, the town of Zahra '', by Abd ar -Rahman III. (al- Nasir ) given from the dynasty of the Umayyad Caliph of Córdoba 936 commissioned and originally dedicated one of his concubines called az- Zahra ', is a former palace city in southern Spain. It lies about 8 km west of Córdoba on a hillside with a beautiful view of the valley and Córdoba itself, the complex has been preserved as a ruin, with some prominent building remains.

The construction of the palace city begins in the year 936, under the supervision of master architect Maslamah ibn Abdallah. In the year 945, the relocation of the court of Córdoba takes place in this city, which has at this point already on the main mosque ( Ǧāmi ʿ ) ( 941). The mint is about 947-948 moved here. Nevertheless takes the final completion until the reign of Al- Hakam II This also explains the stylistic differences between this city and the expansion of the Mosque of Cordoba, which were given by the son and successor of Al- Nasir in order.

The palace complex is located on a spur of the Sierra Morena, at the foot of the mountain Yebel al - Arus (German, mountain of the newly-weds ', Spanish Monte de la Desposada ) and vis -à-vis the Guadalquivir valley. The plant is therefore divided into terraces, the uppermost was the Caliph, the underlying the administrative officials (House of the vizier, bodyguard, Salón Rico, administrative departments, gardens etc. ). Again, one level down is the actual city with houses, shops and the main mosque, which was separated by a wall of the palace two areas mentioned above.

Assigns the Islamic urbanism style otherwise rather a labyrinthine or even chaotic system, so Medina Azahara is in contrast applied at right angles thereto, on an area of ​​about 1500 m by 750 m, with a well- planned water and sewage network. The property is considered as the largest urban settlement in the Mediterranean region, which was planned and designed in one fell swoop.

So far, only 10% of the surface area were excavated, with the Salón Rico stands out. He served the receipt of important messenger, and has three separate with red and bluish marble arches longitudinal vessels that are completed at the head end of a transept. The lower half of the walls of the salon were decorated with marble plant motifs, after which different motives followed. The whole thing was about finally completed by the typical Moorish wood carvings. The truncated columns consist of alternating blue and pink marble.

Despite the high quality and durable materials Medina Azahara was not even a century since it was already in 1010 conquered and destroyed as a result of the civil war that brought the Caliphate of Córdoba doom. In the following centuries, the looting and removal continued. Thus, the plant was used as an artificial quarry for other buildings and later buildings.