Mosque of Cristo de la Luz

The Church of El Cristo de la Luz in Toledo ( Spain) was originally a mosque with an unknown name. They are also called " Masjid Bab al - Mardum " after the Arabic name of the gate, near which it stands. It is now a museum.

Architectural History

The mosque was built during the reign of the Moors; an Arabic inscription in stone in a frieze at the top of the facade called the founder, the architect and date of construction ( 999/1000 ). The construction period is expected to be no more than about a year. Probably shortly after the conquest of Toledo by Alfonso VI. in 1085 the mosque into a church was converted. In the 12th century got this - with removal of the mihrab niche - an extension of the Mudejar style; the former mosque was an open vestibule ( narthex ).

Inscription

"In the name of Allah. Ahmad ibn Hadidi had this mosque built at his own expense and in expectation of a reward by Allah in paradise. The building was completed with the help of Allah and the leadership of Musa ibn Ali, architect and Sa'ada (?), In the month of Muharram of the year 390 "

Architecture

The small, almost cubic built mosque ( side lengths and height are each about eight meters) has a square plan. As building material each burned about half bricks and roughly hewn quarry stones were used for the most part - are arranged in horizontal bands - the Roman model. Whether the mosque had originally a minaret, and whether it may have been ripped off in the medieval reconstruction measures is unclear.

Facades

The left side of the main façade is slightly wider than the right, the width of which, however, optically by a - is offset buttresses - consistent masonry brick. The lower part of the facade is completely without decor; it houses three - different design - portals, one of which is the average higher than the two side, so that the appearance of the entire portal zone reminiscent of a Roman triumphal arch. The arch of the left portal consists of bricks and shows a slightly elongated Five passport; the arch of the right portal, however, is made of natural stone. The central part of the facade is formed by blind arcades with intersecting horseshoe arches made ​​of bricks, which rest on cantilevered stone consoles. On top there is a transverse -mounted box with a diamond decor, which is framed by a serrated band; above this is the above-mentioned inscription band. The revolving consoles below the eaves consist exclusively of brick.

The portal zone of the north façade shows three equally high horseshoe arches that are overlaid each of semicircular blind arches. In addition, there are six pop-up window with red- white stone change in the way the Mezquita de Córdoba. The south facade is closed and shows alternating brick and quarry stone stripes.

Affairs

The interior of the steinsichtigen in the lower region in the upper area, however, plaster and weißgetüchten structure is divided into nine squares domed, wherein the medium is increased and exposed through window openings. The increased central yoke is supported by four monolithic columns, which - like the capitals - from a Roman or Visigothic buildings ( palace, villa or temple ) come and were again used here as spoils. All nine yokes have small, differently shaped ribs domes made of plastered brick, which are often compared with those in the Mosque of Cordoba.

Choir and apse

The comparatively large extension of cultivation occupies roughly the same footprint as the mosque and is connected internally through a portal and two large lateral arches of both abgegrenz this as well with this. He has a base or foundation zone of rubble; The actual building is, however, built entirely of bricks. The apse is divided into two parts in its structure: in the lower zone, there are arcades with arches; the upper zone, however, shows slender Gothic-arch windows with overlay sheets in the form of nine passes. Inside the apse there is a similar two-storey building with arcades, whose horseshoe arches are slightly pointed.

The Apsiskalotte shows a badly damaged Pantocrator fresco, which was formerly surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists - an eagle ( for John) is still recognizable. The Mandorla is externally graded colored; its interior is designed as a light blue starry sky.

Legend

The name of the church goes back to a legend that King Alfonso VI. after the Reconquest ( Reconquista ) Toledo in the walls of the mosque a wooden figure of Christ was found next to a burning candle, which should have burned all the time 373 years of Islamic rule over Toledo.

Importance

The small mosque shows both bonds from the Roman (stone Exchange, triumphal arch motif) as well as from the Visigothic architecture ( horseshoe arches ). Other decorative motifs are developed in the Arab- Andalusian architecture ( intersecting arches, ribbed domes ). In contrast, the decorative, but in its origin probably unheilabwehrend ( apotropaic ) meant Rautenpaneel in the upper part of the facade is certainly influenced by ancient notions of the Berbers of Morocco.

In its entirety, the building is a reflection of the varied cultural history of Toledo and the whole of Spain.