Zawiya al-Nussak

Coordinates: 34°02′9.1″N 6°48′48.5″W / 34.035861°N 6.813472°W / 34.035861; -6.813472
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Zawiya al-Nussak
زاوية النساك
Marinid, Moorish
LocationSalé, Morocco
Coordinates34°02′9.1″N 6°48′48.5″W / 34.035861°N 6.813472°W / 34.035861; -6.813472
Completed1356
Technical details
Materialstone, rammed earth

The Zawiya al-Nussak

Arabic: زاوية النساك; also transliterated as Zaouiat en-Noussak[3]) is a historic zawiya (religious complex and residence) located just outside the old city walls of Salé, Morocco
.

History

The zawiya was built by the Marinid sultan Abu Inan in 1356.[4][5][3] A former inscription recorded that its construction was completed on 27 Sha'ban 757 AH (25 August 1356 CE).[2] The building's name, meaning "Zawiya of the Ascetics",[5] comes from the writings of Ibn al-Khatib.[3]

The zawiya was probably occupied by

funduq (caravanserai), which provided lodging for travelers and pilgrims of all kinds.[2] Travelers and caravans that arrived to Salé late in the day, after the city gates were locked, could be accommodated here.[1]

The building was probably heavily damaged by a fire at an unknown date. Its southwest entrance portal collapsed in 1912.[3] During the 20th century it stood largely in ruins, except for its northwest entrance portal.[3][5] Its remains were excavated and studied by archeologist Jacques Meunié in 1948.[2] According to writer Richard Parker in 1981, the zawiya's remains were being used as a private residence at the time.[5] The building has since been largely reconstructed. The stone portal of its northwest entrance is the only major feature preserved from the original structure.[2]

Architecture

The only well-preserved part of the building is its ornate entrance portal of carved stone.

Qur'anic verses.[2] A secondary entrance on the southwest side of the building, called Bab Chellah, collapsed in 1912.[3] It probably resembled the main entrance portal. It featured an inscription which was documented prior to the portal's collapse and noted the building's foundation by Abu Inan and its completion in 1956.[3][2]

The rest of the building, which was made of

Arabic: ميضأة; "ablutions facility") to the north and living quarters to the south that likely belonged to the sheikh of the institution.[4] The main courtyard was centered around a large rectangular water basin, flanked by a circular fountain at either end, and surrounded by galleries that led to other rooms, possibly used for teaching and meetings.[4][5] The living quarters of the students were likely located on an upper floor that no longer exists.[4][2] The floors and lower walls of the courtyard were decorated with zellij tilework, which Jacques Meunié documented during 20th-century excavations. Meunié also found sparse fragments of carved stucco, which suggest that the rest of the building also featured this type decoration, as in other Marinid madrasas.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ettahiri, Ahmed Saleh (2009). "Nouvelles remarques sur la zawiya mérinide d'Al-Nussak à Salé". Bulletin d'Archéologie marocaine: 289–310.
  2. ^
    ISBN 9782359063356
    .
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Meunié, Jacques (1957). "La Zaouiat en-Noussak, une fondation mérinite aux abords de Salé". Mélanges d'histoire et d'archéologie de l'occident musulman - Tome II - Hommage à Georges Marçais. Imprimerie officielle du Gouvernement Général de l'Algérie. pp. 129–146.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Marçais, Georges (1954). L'architecture musulmane d'Occident. Paris: Arts et métiers graphiques. p. 284.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Parker, Richard (1981). A practical guide to Islamic Monuments in Morocco. Charlottesville, VA: The Baraka Press. pp. 100–101.

Further reading

External links
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