DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0565
Bk. I. Ch. III.
CORDOBA.
545
colunms ” of a Hinclu temple, and produces pretty nearly the same
effect.
The mosque of Abd el-Rahman I. was built with columns of many-
coloured marbles, taken from ancient edifices, with beautiful capitals of
Roman and Byzantine work. These columns being small and low,
they were obliged to employ the expedient of placing arch over arcli to
eke out their height—to insert, in short, for the nonce that strange
style which gives so peculiar a character to the building. In the
additions by E1 ITakeem II. the same style was adhered to, but the
columns were quarried at Merida for the purpose, and are all uniform
in colour and size. The
capitals are blocked out
only, and not carved,
except some in the
mihrab. A manksoura
or sanctuary was en-
closed at the north end,
including two bays in
depth, and extending
across the eleven bays
of E1 Hakeem II.’s
addition. Great rich-
ness was given to this
portion of the work, and
the lower arches are
formed of interlaced
cusped work of great
elaboration and richness,
which seems to have
suggested the plaster
decoration of the screen
work above the arches
in the courts of the
Alhambra. The decora-
tions of the sanctuary and the mihrab in marble and mosaic are of
Byzantine workmanship, being executed by artists sent by the Emperor
Leo from Constantinople at the request of the Caliph, E1 Hakeem II.
The roof of the whole mosque was originally in wood, carved, painted,
and gilded. This is now hidden by the brick and plaster vault built
underneath partly in 1713-23 and in this century \ this vault also
hides the frieze which decorated the upper part of the walls.
In the eastern extension of A1 Mansour there is a great falling off
in the execution of the work, which is irregularly set out, and in which
some of the arches are pointed.
The alterations effected by the Christians are found in the church
2 N
991. Interior of Sanctuary at Cordoba. (From a Dravving
by Girault de Prangey.)
VOL. II.
CORDOBA.
545
colunms ” of a Hinclu temple, and produces pretty nearly the same
effect.
The mosque of Abd el-Rahman I. was built with columns of many-
coloured marbles, taken from ancient edifices, with beautiful capitals of
Roman and Byzantine work. These columns being small and low,
they were obliged to employ the expedient of placing arch over arcli to
eke out their height—to insert, in short, for the nonce that strange
style which gives so peculiar a character to the building. In the
additions by E1 ITakeem II. the same style was adhered to, but the
columns were quarried at Merida for the purpose, and are all uniform
in colour and size. The
capitals are blocked out
only, and not carved,
except some in the
mihrab. A manksoura
or sanctuary was en-
closed at the north end,
including two bays in
depth, and extending
across the eleven bays
of E1 Hakeem II.’s
addition. Great rich-
ness was given to this
portion of the work, and
the lower arches are
formed of interlaced
cusped work of great
elaboration and richness,
which seems to have
suggested the plaster
decoration of the screen
work above the arches
in the courts of the
Alhambra. The decora-
tions of the sanctuary and the mihrab in marble and mosaic are of
Byzantine workmanship, being executed by artists sent by the Emperor
Leo from Constantinople at the request of the Caliph, E1 Hakeem II.
The roof of the whole mosque was originally in wood, carved, painted,
and gilded. This is now hidden by the brick and plaster vault built
underneath partly in 1713-23 and in this century \ this vault also
hides the frieze which decorated the upper part of the walls.
In the eastern extension of A1 Mansour there is a great falling off
in the execution of the work, which is irregularly set out, and in which
some of the arches are pointed.
The alterations effected by the Christians are found in the church
2 N
991. Interior of Sanctuary at Cordoba. (From a Dravving
by Girault de Prangey.)
VOL. II.