Madrasa of Abu al-Hasan
Madrasa of Abu al-Hasan | |
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Location | Salé, Morocco |
Coordinates | 34°02′23.5″N 6°49′38.1″W / 34.039861°N 6.827250°W |
Completed | 1341 |
The Madrasa of Abu al-Hasan, also referred to as the Marinid Madrasa (of Salé), is a medieval madrasa located within the old city of Salé, Morocco. It was built in the 14th century by the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hasan next to the Grand Mosque of Salé and it is notable for its rich decoration.[1][2][3]
History
According to an inscription on the wooden canopy of the entrance portal, construction of the madrasa began in 1332–1333 on the orders of the Marinid sultan Abu al-Hasan (r. 1331–1348), who was also responsible for founding multiple other madrasas and religious complexes in his reign.[4][5] Construction was finished in 1341–1342, as recorded by a foundation inscription carved on a marble plaque in the northwestern gallery of the courtyard.[4] The madrasa was built to help further develop the nearby Great Mosque of Salé as the focus of religious and intellectual life in the city.[5]
Architecture
The madrasa is entered through an ornate stone portal with a
Possibly even more than other Marinid madrasas, this building shows similarities with Nasrid art and architecture such as the palaces of the Alhambra), attesting to the shared artistic vocabulary between the two regions.[1] The decoration consists of zellij tilework covering the floor and the lower walls, transitioning into intricately carved stucco decoration above, and topped by carved cedar wood surfaces and a wooden canopy above.[2] Both the wood and the stucco are carved with calligraphic decoration and with a variable repertoire of geometric, arabesque, and floral/vegetal patterns.[3] A rectangular marble panel carved with a foundation inscription of the building was originally set into the northwestern wall of the courtyard (opposite the mihrab and the prayer room).[3]
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The entrance portal of the madrasa
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The courtyard of the madrasa, looking northwest
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The courtyard and fountain of the madrasa, looking southeast towards the mihrab
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Stucco and wood carvings on one of the lateral galleries of the courtyard
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A restored painted wooden ceiling under one of the courtyard galleries
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The mihrab of the prayer room
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The student cells on the upper floor
References
- ^ a b Kubisch, Natascha (2011). "Maghreb - Architecture" in Hattstein, Markus and Delius, Peter (eds.) Islam: Art and Architecture. h.f.ullmann.
- ^ a b c d e Marçais, Georges (1954). L'architecture musulmane d'Occident. Paris: Arts et métiers graphiques. pp. 289–290.
- ^ a b c d e f Parker, Richard (1981). A practical guide to Islamic Monuments in Morocco. Charlottesville, VA: The Baraka Press.
- ^ ISBN 9782359063356.
- ^ ISBN 9789004171688.
External links
- Images of Abu al-Hasan Madrasa in Manar al-Athar digital photo archive resource