Palace-City of Madinat al-Zahra
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Name
121360_sv.jpg
Size
2.55 MB
Format
JPEG
Checksum (MD5)
f679b39d4f76d5a115e3b4a738940bd0
Creator(s)
Islamic, Spanish
Time period
creation date: 936-1010
Location
Site: Medina Azahara (Spain)
Cultural context
Islamic
Spanish
Description
Madinat al-Zahra, a planned palatine city located a few miles west of Cordoba, was founded by 'Abd al-Rahman III in 936, shortly after the proclamation of the Umayyad caliphate in al-Andalus. Construction continued during the reign of his successor al-Hakam II.
The city is composed of three terraced platforms, separated from one another by walls, and enclosed by fortified walls. The uppermost terrace contained various buildings for government administration and royal ceremony, as well as residential quarters and gardens for the caliph and the court. The middle terrace was composed mainly of gardens with pavilions and pools, and orchards, while the lowest terrace contained the congregational mosque, markets, and probably residential quarters for the military and for the merchants associated with the market.
Source: Archnet
The city is composed of three terraced platforms, separated from one another by walls, and enclosed by fortified walls. The uppermost terrace contained various buildings for government administration and royal ceremony, as well as residential quarters and gardens for the caliph and the court. The middle terrace was composed mainly of gardens with pavilions and pools, and orchards, while the lowest terrace contained the congregational mosque, markets, and probably residential quarters for the military and for the merchants associated with the market.
Source: Archnet
bird's-eye view, View of battlemented retaining wall of garden, west wall, 1992
Work type
Palace
City
Medium
stone
Type
Image
Rights
(c) James D. Carr, AIA 1992
Access rights
All rights reserved
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