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Mosque Name: Zaytouna Mosque

Country: Tunisia

City: Tunis

Year of construction (AH): 115 AH

Year of construction (AD): 732 AD

GPS: 36°47’50.73” N 10°10’16.88”E

ArchNet: http://archnet.org/sites/3765

Gibson Classification: Parallel

Rebuilt facing Mecca: never


Description:

The Zaytuna mosque, or “olive tree” mosque, was initially built in 732 CE on the ruins of an old Roman basilica in the médina of Tunis, Tunisia. Though the original structure no longer exists, literary sources attribute its construction to builder Hassan ibn Nu’man. A century after its construction, the mosque was completely rebuilt by Aghlabid amir Abu Ibrahim Ahmed (reg. 856-863 CE) to emulate another of his large building projects the Great Mosque at Kairouan. The two mosques were reconstructed concurrently between 856 and 863 CE. In 864 renovations were funded by the Abbasid caliph Al–Musta’in. There are further similarities between the plan of the Zaytuna mosque and that of the Great Mosque at Córdoba (784-786, 961-976, 987 AD), a testament to the persisting influence that the Córdoba building had upon mosque design in Northern Africa.

The Zaytuna mosque, or “olive tree” mosque, was initially built in 732 CE on the ruins of an old Roman basilica in the médina of Tunis, Tunisia. Though the original structure no longer exists, literary sources attribute its construction to builder Hassan ibn Nu’man. A century after its construction, the mosque was completely rebuilt by Aghlabid amir Abu Ibrahim Ahmed (reg. 856-863 CE) to emulate another of his large building projects the Great Mosque at Kairouan. The two mosques were reconstructed concurrently between 856 and 863 CE. In 864 renovations were funded by the Abbasid caliph Al–Musta’in. There are further similarities between the plan of the Zaytuna mosque and that of the Great Mosque at Córdoba (784-786, 961-976, 987 AD), a testament to the persisting influence that the Córdoba building had upon mosque design in Northern Africa.

The Parallel Qibla is named after after a line that could be drawn between Petra and Mecca.


Sample of Parallel Qibla. Note the angel of Petra to Mecca.

Sample of Parallel Qibla. Note the angel of Petra to Mecca.


Inside Zaytuna mosque

Inside Zaytuna mosque



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