The Mosque-cathedral of The Mosque-cathedral of CórdobaCórdoba

The construction started in the 786 on The construction started in the 786 on the ruins of the visigoth basilica of the ruins of the visigoth basilica of San Vicente Martyr. San Vicente Martyr.

The mosque was The mosque was expanded four times in expanded four times in different agesdifferent ages..

• The first part was built by The first part was built by Abd-al-Rahman I in 786 Abd-al-Rahman I in 786 ((pinkpink))

• Then, a second part was Then, a second part was made by Abd-al-Rahman II made by Abd-al-Rahman II ((greengreen))

• Abd-al-Rahman III built the Abd-al-Rahman III built the minaret (number 2).minaret (number 2).

• The next part is due toThe next part is due to Al-Haken II (Al-Haken II (blueblue))• The last one was built by The last one was built by

Al-Mansur in 988 (Al-Mansur in 988 (brownbrown). It). It has 23,400 square metres has 23,400 square metres

altogether.altogether.

Parts of the MosqueParts of the Mosque1.1. The Orange Trees Courtyard The Orange Trees Courtyard was originally was originally

used for ritual washings. It is now surrounded by used for ritual washings. It is now surrounded by a gallery from the 16th century.a gallery from the 16th century.

2.2. The The minaretminaret (now covered by the christian (now covered by the christian tower) was used for calling the prayers.tower) was used for calling the prayers.

3.3. The The oratoryoratory or prayer room with 1300 columns or prayer room with 1300 columns and 365 bicolour arches.and 365 bicolour arches.

Courtyard

Cathedral

Tower

Oratory

The oratory The oratory

is made up of nineteen naves with 856 columns with shafts of all imaginable colours and forms

THE CATHEDRALTHE CATHEDRAL

After the conquest After the conquest of Cordoba by the of Cordoba by the christians, they christians, they

used the mosque to used the mosque to celebrate their cult, celebrate their cult,

but in the 16but in the 16THTH century the century the

christians built a christians built a cathedral in middle cathedral in middle of it. The architects of it. The architects were Hernán Ruiz I, were Hernán Ruiz I,

II and III.II and III.

The MinaretThe Minaret

The remains of the The remains of the old square-shaped old square-shaped minaret, made by minaret, made by Abderramán III, Abderramán III, are now inside the are now inside the christian belfrychristian belfry of of the cathedralthe cathedral..

The MihrabThe Mihrab

This is the present This is the present appearance of the appearance of the Mihrab, built by Al-Mihrab, built by Al-haken II. The haken II. The mihrab is a small mihrab is a small room in the kiblah room in the kiblah where the Koran is where the Koran is kept. kept.

The KiblahThe Kiblah

The Kiblah is the wall where the The Kiblah is the wall where the imam and the worshippers must be imam and the worshippers must be orientated to when they pray.orientated to when they pray.

One of the most One of the most important parts of important parts of the Mosque is The the Mosque is The Orange Tree Orange Tree Courtyard, whose Courtyard, whose last expansion was last expansion was carried out at the carried out at the time of Abd al-time of Abd al-Rahman III. In the Rahman III. In the Islamic period it Islamic period it was used as a place was used as a place for public activities. for public activities. The arches of the The arches of the oratory on the oratory on the courtyard were courtyard were open.open.

The Orange Tree The Orange Tree CourtyardCourtyard

ActivitiesActivities

• MINARET MINARET - - Prayer Room.Prayer Room.• MIHRABMIHRAB - - Wall facing Mecca.Wall facing Mecca.• ORATORYORATORY - - Christian bell tower.Christian bell tower.• KIBLAH KIBLAH --Place where the Place where the

Coran isCoran is

1. Match the following words with their definition.

2. Complete the text with the following words:

• The _______ of the Great Mosque of Cordoba. It The _______ of the Great Mosque of Cordoba. It marks the path toward the _____ (Mecca) and to marks the path toward the _____ (Mecca) and to which the _______ and the ___________ must which the _______ and the ___________ must be orientated to perform their _______.be orientated to perform their _______.

• The door of the _____ gives access to the The door of the _____ gives access to the Mosque: there is a group of 1300 _______ with Mosque: there is a group of 1300 _______ with sixty-five ________ arches.sixty-five ________ arches.

Worshippers Palms Imam Kaaba Bicolour Columns Worshippers Palms Imam Kaaba Bicolour Columns Prayers Quibla Prayers Quibla

1.1. How many expansions were made to the Mosque?How many expansions were made to the Mosque?

2.2. On what ruins was the mosque built?On what ruins was the mosque built?

3.3. What was the original function of the Orange trees What was the original function of the Orange trees courtyard?courtyard?

4.4. What was there in the Mihrab?What was there in the Mihrab?

5.5. What did the christians do when they conquered What did the christians do when they conquered Córdoba?Córdoba?

6.6. Can the minaret be seen nowadays? Why?Can the minaret be seen nowadays? Why?

3. Answer these questions.

Presentation made by:Presentation made by: Carlos Manuel Sierra Párraga Carlos Manuel Sierra Párraga

Javier Martos Sánchez Javier Martos SánchezIES Medina Azahara, Córdoba (Spain)IES Medina Azahara, Córdoba (Spain)

for the Comenius project: for the Comenius project:

Multicultural European LandscapesMulticultural European Landscapes..