Architecture of the Caliphate: Rich Hall and Mosque

The Luxurious Architecture of the Caliphate

There was a passage that communicated with the Mosque. There is a bathroom serving the Caliphate. It is the most luxurious building; they focus on this part of the work of excavation and reconstruction. It materializes the characteristics of classical art from the Caliphate period.

Floor Plan and Structural Layout

Majlis: The area consists of a five-nave basilica, of which three are interconnected by arches resting on columns. The two sides are more independent but communicate through a door. There are two rooms with the front wall covered by domes where the Caliph rested in the middle of the ceremonies. The front porch is a cross with two spaces that are independent at the extremes. One of them communicates with the Casa del Califa, and the other with the Mosque.

The Open and Transverse Porches

• The open porch has Caliphal horseshoe arches supported on moldings and columns. Traditional arch panels surround the arc.
• The transverse porch features a flat roof covered by wood, which enhances the decor.

Interior Decoration and Design

Regarding the Interior, there is a clear separation of the naves through nest arches with capitals. The marble columns feature alternating blue and pink stems, which were intended for the Mosque. The blind horseshoe arch is the element where the Caliph stood. Everything is covered with decoration, including marble plating, reflecting a sense of horror vacui. Both restored and original elements appear throughout the structure.

At the bottom, there are holes in the wall where there were shelves for storing liquids that cooled the Caliph and his assistants. There is a large repertoire of different plant forms in the interior, which links to Abbasid styles. The capitals are of the nest type, deeply drill-carved with pierced decoration. The bases are carved with inscriptions that allude to the Caliph or the artists.

Decorative Models and Symmetry

The decorative panel model follows strict symmetry. It is placed on the front: the Hom, or Tree of Life. There is a border around it, showing Abbasid influence. In front of the Rich Hall is a huge platform that projects onto the intermediate terrace; it is filled with earth. This space is at the same height as the high garden and incorporates four pools. The primary pool is located in front of the portico.

In the middle row, there should be a high, airy architectural space about which we know very little. It may have had vaults, as there are many decorative remains.

The Intermediate Terrace and Gardens

On the left, in the west, is the garden below. It is a cruising garden, which became very important in Nazari architecture.

The Mosque of the Caliphate

The Mosque is one of the first buildings constructed and is located to the east. It is, alongside Cordoba's, the most important religious building of the Caliphate period. Although it is a mosque smaller than the one in Cordoba, we have only ruins, foundations, the start of the walls, some columns, and stepped battlements remaining. It put forward solutions that were later implemented in Cordoba.

Floor Plan and Characteristic Features

The floor plan is characteristic of Western Islamic art. It is a hypostyle structure with riwaqs, a patio, a prayer hall, and a minaret on the north wall, similar to that of Abd-al Rahman III. Unlike Cordoba, its entrance faces the southeast. It has five aisles perpendicular to the qibla wall. Because the ground is so hard, to build a solid qibla, they created a double wall to serve as a retaining wall.