The document provides a historical overview and architectural description of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba in Spain. It details how the site began as a mosque built in the 8th century on top of a Christian church, and was later converted into a cathedral in the 13th century after Córdoba was captured by King Ferdinand III. The document describes the architectural elements of the building like its hypostyle hall with over 800 columns, horseshoe arches, and decorative materials like marble, mosaics and tilework representing the blending of Muslim and Christian styles over its evolution. It highlights the UNESCO World Heritage site as a symbol of the cultural tensions between Christians and Muslims in medieval Spain.

1. MOSQUE-CATHEDRAL
OF
CÓRDOBA
PREPARED BY: Rebecca Marie Tanduba (0322757)
MODULE: Effective Public Communication
LECTURER: Ms Persis Rodrigues
SESSION: Tuesday, 4 PM
SEMESTER: September 2015

2. ALTERNATE NAMES:
-CATHEDRAL OF CÓRDOBA
-GREAT MOSQUE OF CÓRDOBA
-CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION
“MOST ACCOMPLISHED MONUMENT OF MOORISH ARCHITECTURE”
-MEZQUITA DE CÓRDOBA

3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

4. THE CITY has been inhibited since at least 300, 000 B.C.
ROMANS
VISIGOTHS
MOORS
KING FERDINAND III
ADVENT RULES OF:
• founded near pre-existing Tartesic Cordoba
(capital of Baetica)
• acquired great importance during the
period of Augustus
• built a temple dedicated to Janus
• defeated the Romans in 572 A.D.
• replaced the temple and built a
Catholic Church dedicated to St.
Vincent
• Ab-dur Rahman I (an Umayyad prince) captured Córdoba
• in 756 A.D., declared it as his capital, Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba
• bought a portion of the church compound to build a mosque
• in return, he allowed Catholics to rebuild their ruined churches (St. Marcellus, St. Januaries, St. Faustus)
• construction of mosque began in 786 A.D.
• Ferdinand III (later declared a saint),
captured the city in 1236
• he converted the Great Mosque into a
cathedral
• reinforce fortifications around the city

5. ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

7. STRUCTURE & LAYOUT

8. Aerial and plan view of the Mosque-Cathedral
first construction in 785 A.D. - mosque measures up to 73 m square (half of which was a forecourt)
end of 9th century - worship hall enlarged in length to 138 m
early 10th century - enlarged to 186 m
end of 10th century - an area of 136 m x 138 m, with no less than 600 columns

9. 1. ALMINAR - current bell tower that stands over the original minaret of the mosque
2. PATIO DE LOS NARANJOS - classic ablutions where Islamic worshippers wash before
entering the Great Mosque
3. ALJIBE - water source for Moorish baths
4. CHRISTIAN CATHEDRAL - location in the very centre makes it the “new” focus
5. SALA DE LA ORACIÓN - 800 columns built on former Visigothic church
6. LA SALA DEL MIHRAB - prayer room built with marble walls and covered in mosaic

10. The exteriors of the
mosque-cathedral

11. ORNAMENTATION
&
MATERIALS USED

12. The Hypostyle Hall The Mihrab
• salvaged from the Roman and
Gothic buildings
• two-tiered arcade
• marble columns
• pillars are made of onyx,
granite and jasper
• red-and-white stripes formed
by white stone and red brick
• impressive carvings on the
capitals are from the ancient
Visigothic basilica
• bordered by Koranic
sculptures
• carved stucco adorned the
upper walls
• scallop-shaped domes
• richly decorated with
b e a u t i f u l l y - c o l o u r e d
mosaics and gilded tiles
*Horseshoe-shaped arches

13. Capilla Villaviciosa
• famous landmark of
Andalusia: the exterior
wall with great door
• made of stone
• p a n e l s o f
mahogany
and scented
w o o d s
grouted to
t h e w a l l s
w i t h g o l d
nails

14. • main altar
of Córdoba
• g e o m e t r i c a l
craftsmanship and
decoration on the
cathedral’s ceiling
• contains Hispano
a n d F l e m i s h
influences
• a l t a r p i e c e w i t h
m o n s t r a n c e ( p l a c e
where the
• consecrated host is kept)
• flanked by paintings of
martyrs from Córdoba
• above - painting of the
Virgin Mary
• flanked by paintings of
two other martyrs from
Córdoba

15. INTERESTING FACTS
• inscribed in World
Heritage list in 1984
• declared by UNESCO as
the Historic Centre of
Cordoba
• evolution of “Omeya” style
in Spain is found in the
history of the mosque-
cathedral
• combined with the Roman,
M o o r i s h , G o t h i c ,
Renaissance and Baroque of
Christian architecture
styles
• architectural metaphor for the
tensions between Christians
and Muslims in Spain
• mosque is low-slung, conveying
architectural humility
• cathedral (Gothic exterior,
Renaissance interior) rises
upwards, its flying buttresses
anchored solidly on the roof of
the mosque
• Spanish Muslims
are still lobbying
with the Vatican
for a right to pray
in the complex.

16. REFERENCES
(n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2016, from http://www.thousandwonders.net/Mosque–Cathedral of
Córdoba
Historic Centre of Cordoba. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2016, from http://whc.unesco.org/en/
list/313/
History of the Mosque. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2016, from http://
www.mezquitadecordoba.org/en/history-mosque-cordoba.asp
Kassam, A. (2014, December 5). Córdoba’s Mosque-Cathedral in name-change row. Retrieved
January 16, 2016, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/05/cordoba-mosque-
cathedral-name-change-row-andalusia
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2016, from https://www.khanacademy.org/
humanities/art-islam/islamic-art-early/a/the-great-mosque-of-cordoba
THE MEZQUITA in Cordoba, Spain. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2016, from http://www.ne.jp/
asahi/arc/ind/2_meisaku/06_cordoba/cor_eng.htm
The Strange Story of Cordoba's Disputed Cathedral - Regina Magazine. (2015, April 6). Retrieved
January 18, 2016, from http://reginamag.com/the-strange-story-of-cordobas-disputed-cathedral/

17. THANK YOU