Moti Masjid (Red Fort)
| Moti Masjid (Red Fort) | |
|---|---|
rupees | |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 3 |
| Site area | 9 by 15 metres |
| Materials | White marble, red sandstone |
The Moti Masjid (lit. 'Pearl mosque')
History
The Moti Masjid was commissioned by Mughal emperor
In 1857, British soldiers looted the Red Fort, following its capture in the
In the 1920s, initiatives by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) led to a swelling of tourism at the Red Fort, and the Moti Masjid experienced increased foot traffic. This caused rules and regulations to be put in place so as to have visitors comply with Islamic conduct. In the post-Revolt era, the ASI also raised concerns over British military personnel damaging the marble floors of the mosque.[7]
In the modern era, the ASI has kept the mosque building closed to visitors, to avoid damage to the structure.[8]
Architecture
The Moti Masjid consists of a prayer hall and courtyard, contained in a walled enclosure. The site is small, internally measuring 9 by 15 metres. The compound is raised slightly above ground level and entered from the east, accessed by a staircase. The enclosure walls are made of red sandstone, and are of notable height, obstructing the view of the structures within. The walls also vary in thickness, compensating for the mosque's orientation - the exterior walls align with the axes of the Red Fort, while the interior walls are aligned towards Mecca, as per Islamic tradition. The courtyard of the mosque is rectangular, and contains a recessed pool.[3][9][2]
Set at the end of the courtyard is the prayer hall (the main mosque building), a three-bayed structure divided into two aisles. The structure also has corridors for use by the ladies of the court. The facade of the prayer hall features three entrance arches on piers, as well as a curvilinear eave (bangla chhajja). The mosque building is topped by three pointed domes, sitting on constricted necks, aligned with the arches in the facade.[3][9] The prayer hall's marble floor is demarcated into rectangles, possibly to mark positions for worshippers.[2]
The Moti Masjid most closely resembles the
Koch notes that the ostentatious design of the mosque stands in contrast to Aurangzeb's reputation of artistic austerity. She argues that this indicates the emperor's lack of direct involvement in the stylism of the project.[4] On the other hand, Dadlani views the monument as part of Aurangzeb's 'imperial visual program', which emphasized the construction of mosques to portray himself as a pious ruler, but also used ornamentation to recall Shah Jahan's reign, and thereby its political stability.[11]
Gallery
-
Bronze main door with floral decoration -
Interior of the mosque, with ornate carvings on marble surfaces -
Samuel Bourne, "The Motee Musjid. Delhi. 1351," 1863–1869, photograph mounted on cardboard sheet, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC. -
Courtyard of the mosque, containing a recessed pool -
Moti Masjid in 1843 with its originalgilded copperdomes.
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References
- ^ Dadlani 2019, p. 2.
- ^ ISBN 9781856691895.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-26728-1.
- ^ OCLC 26808918.
- ^ a b Dadlani 2019, p. 37-38.
- ISBN 978-0-226-28347-0.
- ISBN 978-0-226-28347-0.
- ^ Soofi, Mayank Austen (3 July 2017). "Delhiwale: Monument for a vilified emperor". Hindustan Times. New Delhi.
- ^ a b Dadlani 2019, p. 9.
- ^ Dadlani 2019, p. 9-14.
- ^ Dadlani 2019, p. 38-39.
Bibliography
- Dadlani, Chanchal B. (12 August 2019), "Chapter 1: Between Experimentation and Regulation: The Foundations of an Eighteenth-Century Style", From Stone to Paper: Architecture as History in the Late Mughal Empire, Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-25096-1, retrieved 2 December 2023
External links
