Architectural Legacy: The Great Mosque of Cordoba’s Almanzor Expansion
Architectural Features of the Cordoba Mosque Expansion
Distinctive Arch and Door Designs
The expansion features records with new decorations. The arch is significantly more closed, resulting in eccentric intrados and extrados. Door architraves are adorned with voussoirs. An alfiz, with painted decoration in red and white, frames the door. Pai pai decoration is visible in the upper corners of the arch.
Upper Floor and Side Door Elements
On the second floor, intersecting arches create Caliphate horseshoe arches túmidos, alternating with painted decoration of carved stucco. The side door features a lintel and a poly-lobed arch above, with an empty lattice.
Exterior and Structural Details
- Stone veneer covers the arch’s thread.
- Decorated merlons adorn the ridge top; there are no overhanging eaves.
- Another door, historically known as the “Door of the Sabbath,” is a simple lintel, without decoration, which provided access to the high catwalk. It stood until the seventeenth century.
- A section of the wall was destroyed by the expansion of Mansur.
- Traces of the ancient gates are preserved on the exterior.
- The Puerta del Tesoro (Treasury Gate) or Puerta del Chocolate, which communicates with the street, still stands. Remains of Mansur’s enlargement are visible inside.
- This structure served as the basis for Velázquez and Bosco’s rebuilding of the exterior walls.
The Grand Expansion by Almanzor
Historical Context: Almanzor’s Rise to Power
Almanzor, also known as Al-Mansur, was initially the prime minister or vizier of Caliph Hisham II, son of Al-Hakem II. He initially served well as vizier until he consolidated power, effectively detaining Hisham II and monopolizing all authority. He continued to act in the name of Hisham II, maintaining a facade of legitimacy.
Chronology and Direction of Expansion
This significant expansion began in the year 987, according to some historical sources, while others date it between 991 and 994. The enlargement of the Prayer Room was strategically performed in an easterly direction, as the river prevented construction in any other direction.
Scale and Significance of the Expansion
Almanzor’s expansion added eight more naves, extending the prayer hall to correspond with previous enlargements. This made the Cordoba Mosque the third widest mosque in Islam, surpassed only by the Samarra Mosque, built by the Abbasids. The reasons for this increase were twofold:
- Symbolic: To link the building with the need for a more luxurious and grand structure in Al-Andalus, thereby gaining prestige.
- Utilitarian: To accommodate the growing Berber population, which required more space for worship.
Architectural Approach and Continuity
Notably, the qibla wall was not split; instead, the naves were extended seamlessly. There is no discernible break between the arcades, as they extend directly from the facade, creating an indistinguishable space without elements that disrupt its unity. However, this extension is often considered simpler and less original in its presentation.
Key Architectural Characteristics of Almanzor’s Work
Design Philosophy and Priorities
A primary characteristic of Almanzor’s expansion was a clear concern for quantity rather than quality in its execution.
Recurring Motifs and Materials
- The interior of the prayer hall repeats elements from Al-Hakem II’s design, such as overlapping arches and cushion capitals.
- The column shafts are gray, not alternating pink and blue as seen in earlier sections.
- The arches were constructed entirely of ashlar stone.
- Polychrome painting in red and white was used for decoration.
Arch Variety and Roof Structure
The expansion features irregular spaces, covered by a variety of arches. These include horseshoe arches over Caliphate túmidos arches, and other sections with lobed arches and arches above túmidos. While some sections are irregular, not all exhibit this characteristic. The flat roof is made of wood, as skylights were added in the eighteenth century.
Courtyard and Facade Extensions
The courtyard was also extended in parallel and included an underground cistern. The facade of the prayer room overlooking the courtyard repeats the existing structure: horseshoe arches supported by columns with plain shafts and cushion capitals, framed by an alfiz and scroll corbels. In the sixteenth century, blind arches were added. Riwags (porticoes) are present in the courtyard.
Exterior Facades of the New Courtyard
Design Influence and Legacy
The exterior facades of the new courtyard largely copy the style established during the reign of Al-Hakem II, maintaining a consistent architectural language.