Introduction
The Andalusian region in southern Spain has a long, complicated history rooted in the relations between Christians and Muslims. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is one example of these interactions, serving as a visual representation of the political and societal history of the region. The mosque also symbolizes the long cultural dialogue between Islam and Christianity during the medieval period. Construction of the site was “forged out of the interaction of two at the time ideologically oppose worlds.” When walking through the Great Mosque, you will find a small church situated in the center of the structure, known as St. Mary’s Cathedral. You might ask yourself: why a cathedral is at the heart of a mosque?
In this essay, I aim to support the idea that the chapel’s location in the Great Mosque was an assertion of Spanish rule and Christianity in Andalusia. It is necessary to address the region 's history during the eighth through twelfth centuries to comprehend the significance of St. Mary’s construction. Investigating the changes and additions that occurred in …show more content…
His use of a hypostyle mosque plan accommodated for both functions of the mosque. The original mosque measured seventy-four square meters, with “the prayer hall roof supported by columns sustaining ten arcades of twelve bays each, including a central aisle that [was] very slightly wider than the others and distinguished by red column shape.” The incorporation of varying column styles reflected the cultural history of al-Andalus. Many of the capitals recycled for use in the mosque were remnants of the Roman, Byzantine, and Visigothic occupations of Andalusia. Although the mosque contained stylistically different materials, the formulaic floor plan made it easier to build additions without disrupting the visual rhythm of the
The Andalusian region in southern Spain has a long, complicated history rooted in the relations between Christians and Muslims. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is one example of these interactions, serving as a visual representation of the political and societal history of the region. The mosque also symbolizes the long cultural dialogue between Islam and Christianity during the medieval period. Construction of the site was “forged out of the interaction of two at the time ideologically oppose worlds.” When walking through the Great Mosque, you will find a small church situated in the center of the structure, known as St. Mary’s Cathedral. You might ask yourself: why a cathedral is at the heart of a mosque?
In this essay, I aim to support the idea that the chapel’s location in the Great Mosque was an assertion of Spanish rule and Christianity in Andalusia. It is necessary to address the region 's history during the eighth through twelfth centuries to comprehend the significance of St. Mary’s construction. Investigating the changes and additions that occurred in …show more content…
His use of a hypostyle mosque plan accommodated for both functions of the mosque. The original mosque measured seventy-four square meters, with “the prayer hall roof supported by columns sustaining ten arcades of twelve bays each, including a central aisle that [was] very slightly wider than the others and distinguished by red column shape.” The incorporation of varying column styles reflected the cultural history of al-Andalus. Many of the capitals recycled for use in the mosque were remnants of the Roman, Byzantine, and Visigothic occupations of Andalusia. Although the mosque contained stylistically different materials, the formulaic floor plan made it easier to build additions without disrupting the visual rhythm of the