The Great Mosque of Cordoba

 The Great Mosque of Cordoba: A Wonder of Spain

     Having been governed by Muslim rulers for over 7 centuries, the Iberian Peninsula still bears an indelible vestige of the Islamic era, which is quite masterfully reflected in architectural works, the most eminent of which is undoubtedly the Mosque of Cordoba. In fact, the mosque is considered to be one of the most precious pearls of Islamic architecture in all its aspects.

The view of the mosque from above

          The fascinating mosque was constructed in the 8th century at the caliph's, Abd al-Rahman I, behest and therefore oriented towards the south unlike other mosques generally oriented towards Mecca, because Abd al-Rahman was originally from Damascus, for which Mecca was in the south on a map. The caliph had opted for such an extraordinary orientation in order to create in Cordoba a new Damascus to the fullest extent of the word. The plan of the building was a square of 74 meters by 79 meters, divided by a patio of ablutions(sahn) to the north and a prayer hall to the south(haram). The patio of ablutions, also known as the "patio of orange trees" (Patio de los Naranjos), suffices all by itself to impress any visitor thanks to the intricacy of the irrigation system utilised to keep the trees alive and vigorous. Unlike many irrigation networks that are impractical and hard to maintain, the system used in the patio consists of slightly inclined gutters, implemented on the sides of walkways, that lead the water through the garden, irrigating the trees. This stunning building was further expanded by subsequent rulers like Abd al-Rahman II and III. 

       One of the most striking features of the mosque is certainly the constant use of double arcades adorned with alternating red and white colours. In the absence of solid proof, there is considerable speculation with regard to what the inspiration could be, but it is unquestionable that such an architectural innovation was a revolution for its time. As a matter of fact, the red and white colours of these arcades were not simply dyes, but different types of material: red bricks and white stones; nonetheless, this choice of colour was not an unprecedented innovation since the Romans had already used this technique in the construction of the aqueduct in Mérida. As for the double arcade, it was a considerably more efficient version of semi-circular arches that did not convey the burden well enough towards the columns on the sides. Apart from this, double arcades also emitted a spiritual sensation of verticality.

The interior of the mosque with its double arcades

         Unlike the preponderant majority of mosques today, the mosque of Cordoba does not comprise domes inspired by Byzantine Architecture. On the contrary, it features a more cubic shape with unidirectional grooves on top. However, the work was not completed during Abd al-Rahman's lifetime, but during the reign of Hisham I, who also ordered the construction of a primitive minaret by its side, which was going to be demolished and replaced by a new one by Abd al-Rahman III. The intervening rulers between Hisham I and Abd al-Rahman III contributed to the mosque for certain but not as much as Abd al-Rahman III, the first caliph of Cordoba, Al-Hakam II, and Hisham II. These three rulers are responsible for the latest and innovative version of the mosque, greatly expanded and adorned with minor domes. At its greatest, the Great Mosque of Cordoba was the biggest mosque in the world only surpassed by that of Mecca.

In 1236, Ferdinand III of Castile conquered Cordoba and initiated the conversion of the mosque into a cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which brought about some architectural changes too. The main breakaway from the Islamic stylistic understanding took place with the Renaissance when a church nave was erected in the middle of the building at the initiative of the bishop Alonso Manrique, which Charles V was going to lament with the following words: "You destroyed what could not be seen anywhere to replace it by what could be seen everywhere."

As the bishop of the new cathedral of Cordoba, Hernán Ruiz ensured the addition of Gothic elements such as typical windows, buttresses, and vaults in the 16th century. Damaged by either a tempest or an earthquake, the old minaret, used then as a belfry, was severely damaged, whose northern parts were demolished during the efforts of reinforcement. This new tower had flaws that an architect by the name of Gaspar de la Peña took care of in the 17th century. Nevertheless, this was not the last time the mosque was struck by a disaster because it was damaged again in 1727 by another tempest and in 1755 by the earthquake of Lisbon. Later on, a French architect called Baltasar Dreveton was hired for reparation and restoration. Once completed by Juan de Ochoa, the bishop Diego de Mardones financed the creation of a stupendous altarpiece, built with Mannerist style by Alonso de Matías, in exchange for a hefty sum. A choir was also constructed by Pedro Duque Cornejo between 1748 and 1757, though Cornejo would die two weeks before its inauguration after working for it for almost a decade.

The altarpiece in Capilla Mayor

         Today, the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba still stands with all its magnificence, flaunting its authentic design and revolutionary architectural features. As an important city of both Catholic Spain and the Muslim Caliphate of Cordoba, two different religions harmoniously mingle in this monumental work without, for sure, revealing all its secrets, which wait to be discovered with future investigations.