Somali architecture
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Somali architecture is the
Ancient
Walled settlements, temples and tombs
Some of the oldest known structures in the territory of modern-day Somalia consist of burial
Houses were constructed of dressed stone similar to the ones in Ancient Egypt.[2] There are also examples of courtyards and large stone walls enclosing settlements, such as the Wargaade Wall.
Near Bosaso, at the end of the Baladi valley, lies a 2–3 km (1.2–1.9 mi) long earthwork.[1][3] Local tradition recounts that the massive embankment marks the grave of a community matriarch. It is the largest such structure in the wider Horn region.[3] In addition, old temples situated in the northwestern town of
Mudun is situated in the Wadi valley of the Iskushuban District. The area features a number of ruins, which local tradition holds belong to an ancient, large town. Among the old structures are around 2,000 tombs, which possess high towers and are dome-shaped.[1][3]
Menhirs and dolmens
Somali architecture |
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On the coastal plain 20 km to Alula's east are found ruins of an ancient monument in a platform style. The structure is formed by a rectangular dry stone wall that is low in height; the space in between is filled with rubble and manually covered with small stones. Relatively large standing stones are also positioned on the edifice's corners. Near the platform are graves, which are outlined in stones. 24 m by 17 m in dimension, the structure is the largest of a string of ancient platform and enclosed platform monuments exclusive to far northeastern Somalia.[11]
Around 200 stone monuments (taalos) are found in the northeastern Botiala site, most of which consist of cairns. The bigger cairns are covered in shingles and tend to be more sturdily constructed. There are a number of rows of standing stones (menhirs) on the eastern side of the structures, which are similar to those at Salweyn, a great cairn-held situated close to Heis. Besides cairns, the Botiala area also features a few other drystone monuments. These include disc monuments with circular, ground-level features, as well as low, rectangular platform monuments.[12]
The northern town of Aw Barkhadle, named in honour of the 13th century scholar and saint Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn (Aw Barkhadle), is surrounded by a number of ancient structures. Among these are menhirs, burial mounds, and dolmens.[13]
Stelae
Near the ancient northwestern town of
Medieval
The introduction of
Stone cities
The lucrative
Somali merchants were an integral part of a long distance caravan trade network connecting major Somali cities, such as Mogadishu, Merca, Zeila, Berbera, Bulhar and Barawa, with other business centers in the Horn of Africa. The numerous ruined and abandoned towns throughout the interior of Somalia can be explained as the remains of a once booming inland trade dating back to the medieval period.[20]
The interior cities of Amud and Abasa which flourished in the 15th century contained over 200 stone buildings of multiple stories and up to four rooms. The scattered ruins of the site cover an area of approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in circumference.[21]
Goan Bogame, situated in the Las Anod District, contains the ruins of a large ancient city with around two hundred buildings. The structures were built in an architectural style similar to that of the edifices in Mogadishu's old Hamar Weine and Shangani districts.[1][3]
Citadels and city walls
Somali city walls also acted as a barrier against the proliferation of
Mosques and shrines
Concordant with the ancient presence of Islam in the Horn of Africa region, mosques in Somalia are some of the oldest on the entire continent. One architectural feature distributing Somali mosques from other African mosques were minarets.
For centuries,
Arba Rukun's massive round coral tower of about 13.5 meters (44 ft) high and over 4 meters (13 ft) in diameter at its base has a doorway that is narrow and surrounded by a multiple ordered recessed arch, which may be the first example of the recessed arch that was to become a prototype for the local mihrab style.Constructed by and named after the first Sultan of the Mogadishu Sultanate, the Fakr-ad Din mosque dates back to the 1269. Built with marble and coral stone on a compact rectangular plan, it features a domed mihrab (indicator of the direction of Mecca). Glazed tiles were also used in the decoration of the mihrab, one of which bears a dated inscription. In addition, the masjid is characterized by a system of composite beams, alongside two main columns. This well-planned, sophisticated design is not replicated in mosques further south outside the Horn region.[25]
The 13th century Al Gami University consisted of a rectangular base with a large cylindrical tower architecturally unique in the
A number of ancient burial sites dated from the pre-Islamic period sit atop the peak of
Towers and lighthouses
Somalia's historical strategic location within the world's oldest and busiest
Colonial era
Qalcads
The early modern or colonial period saw a continuation in the use of materials such as coral stone,
Throughout the
In the year 1845, Haji Sharmarke Ali Saleh seized Berbera, constructed four Martello style forts within the vicinity of the town, and garrisoned each fort with thirty matchlock men.[29]
Dhulbahante garesas
In the Sayid's description of the fall of Taleh in February 1920, in an April 1920 letter transcribed from the original Arabic script into Italian by the incumbent Governatori della Somalia, the various Darawiish-built installations are described as garesas taken from the Dhulbahante clan by the British:[30][31]
i Dulbohanta nella maggior parte si sono arresi agli inglesi e han loro consegnato ventisette garese (case) ricolme di fucili, munizioni e danaro. |
the Dhulbahante surrendered for the most part to the British and handed twenty-seven garesas (houses) full of guns, ammunition and money over to them. |
The Dar Ilalo stone towers though initially constructed to defend the fortress of
The
1990s to present
In the modern period, several Somali cities such as
Due to
The Somali government continued upon that legacy, while also opening the door to German, American and Chinese designers.
As a departure from the prevailing Somali architectural style, the
In recent times, due to the civil war and the subsequent decentralization, many cities across the country have rapidly developed into urban hubs and have adopted their own architectural styles independently.
In the cities of Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Berbera and Bosaso, construction firms have built hotels, government facilities, airports and residential neighborhoods in a modernist style, often utilizing chrome, steel and glass materials.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8442-8983-0.
- ^ Man, God and Civilization pg 216
- ^ a b c d Ali, Ismail Mohamed (1970). Somalia Today: General Information. Ministry of Information and National Guidance, Somali Democratic Republic. p. 295.
- .
- ^ National Review (1965). Somalia Calling the World. p. 25.
- ISBN 978-0891306580. Retrieved 9 November 2014.)
{{cite book}}
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has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - )
- ISBN 978-0520066977. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- .
- ISBN 978-0812278323. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ Chittick, Neville (1975). An Archaeological Reconnaissance of the Horn: The British-Somali Expedition. pp. 117–133.
- ^ Chittick, Neville (1984). Newsletter of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists, Issues 24-32. Department of Archaeology, University of Calgary. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84162-371-9.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-56902-103-3.
- ^ G.W.B. Huntingford, "The Town of Amud, Somalia", Azania, 13 (1978), p. 184
- ^ "National Museums". Somali Heritage and Archaeology. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, Culture and Customs of Somalia, (Greenwood Press: 2001), p.102.
- ^ The Archaeology of Islam in Sub Saharan Africa pg 62
- ^ Da Gama's First Voyage pg.88
- ^ Shaping of Somali Society - Lee Cassanelli pg.149
- ISBN 9781784776053.
The house are scattered around without any apparent plan; there are no streets and no trace of a surrounding wall. There is a mosque in the southern half of the dwelling area... [with a] rather oddly built mihrab facing the entrance... and immediately to the south... is the cemetery. There are upwards of two hundred houses, all well-built of stone [and] as much as 2.6m in height... The number of rooms ranges from two to four... there is sometimes no sign of an entrance to the inner rooms. This implies that entry was made from the roof, which was doubtless flat and reached by teps now vanished... There are many niches or cupboards in the inner walls.
- ^ Tales which persist on the Tongue - Scott S. Reese pg 4
- ^ Studies in Islamic history and civilization By David Ayalon pg 370
- ^ Asghar, Ajaz. "Medieval to Postmodern Somali architecture and the incorporation of local elements and styles through the ages – Architects77". Retrieved 2019-12-04.
- ^ Peter S. Garlake, Early art and architecture of Africa, (Oxford University Press US: 2002), p.176.
- ^ Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, Culture and Customs of Somalia, (Greenwood Press: 2001), p.8.
- ISBN 978-0810866041. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ Shaping of Somali Society pg 101
- ^ Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, 1849, Volume 8, p. 185.
- ^ Ferro e Fuoco in Somalia, da Francesco Saverio Caroselli, Rome, 1931; p. 272.
- ^ Ciise, Jaamac (1976). Taariikhdii daraawiishta iyo Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan.
Per tal fatto ci siamo sabandati e non c'e ' stato piu ' accordo fra di noi : i Dulbohanta nella maggior parte si sono arresi agli inglesi c han loro consegnato ventisette garese case ) ricolme di fucili , munizioni e danaro .
- ^ Taleh W. A. MacFadyen The Geographical Journal, Vol. 78, No. 2 (Aug., 1931), pp. 125-128