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The Palace of Madinat al-Zahra
Professor Dodds
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Abd al-Rahman, and by his son al-Hakam II, built
an imposing palace on the side of a hill overlooking a vast
plain outside of Cordoba. It reminds us of the extent to which
Umayyad architectural traditions are extensions of Late Antique
traditions: beautiful drilled, abstracted Corinthian capitals;
the use of cut stone and the columnar tradition; and an axial,
basilical throne room (Salon Rico).
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Madinat al-Zahra, capital and base
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But there is also a complex, labyrinthine quality to the plan
that recalls the mythic Abassid palaces. The restrictions against
imagery of animate beings is relaxed in the creation of elaborate
fountains, in which water issues from the mouths of gilded animals.
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Great Mosque of Cordoba, stag
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Ruggles has discovered important meanings, some of which are
rooted in classical tradition, for the landscape, gardens and
views. In Particular, expansive views can be emblematic of hegemony
over the land.
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra, plan
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra, Alcazar, aerial view
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra,Prince's Garden |
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra, Salon Rico, view onto Upper
Garden |
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra, Alcazar, Salon Rico, mihrab
at right |
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra, Alcazar, Salon Rico
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra, Alcazar, Dar al-jund
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Palace of Madinat al-Zahra, Alcazar, "official"
sector, entrance gate
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briefing
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