The Gate of the Palms

An inscription located at the Gate of the Palms tells us that the caliph ordered the reinforcement of the north façade of the oratory of the old Mosque, as it was in danger of collapsing: “The servant of Allah, the emir of the believers, has ordered… the restoration of this façade and its consolidation, in order to enhance the ceremonies of worship to Allah and preserve the sacred character of His dwellings… These works were completed with the help of Allah, in the month of Du-l-hiyya of the year 346 under the care of his freedman, his vizier, and his steward Abd Allah ibn Badr. Work by Said ibn Ayub.” The repair consisted of placing a front façade wall with eleven horseshoe arches, the central one—our focus—being larger in size. The inscription also tells us that the works date to February–March of 958 and were carried out by the newly appointed Caliph Abd al-Rahman III.

Historical Names and Ceremonial Use

The Gate of the Palms, as it is known today, was also referred to as the Arch of Blessings, a name that seems to refer, according to Manuel Nieto Cumplido, to the act of blessing the royal banner during the coronation of a new monarch; the lieutenant major standard-bearer, Nieto Cumplido continues, after bowing three times before the Holy Cross, handed the royal banner to the major standard-bearer, and the Te Deum was sung.

Late Medieval and Renaissance Interventions

In the 14th century, two blind polylobed arches were added on the sides, one of which contains the inscription mentioned at the beginning. In 1553, Hernán Ruiz I the Elder created the pavilion that crowns the façade, decorated with a magnificent relief depicting the scene of “The Annunciation of Mary“, and bears the inscription: “Hoc sacrum opus angelicae salutationis divae Mariae Virgini dicatum frater Joannes a Toleto sculpendum curavit episcopatus sui anno decimo nativitatis vero Domini Nostri MDXXXIII.” The two images, the “Virgin” and the “Angel“, are individually rendered, each in a niche covered by a shell, flanked by columns that narrow as they rise to the height of the capital. The state of conservation is not optimal; however, one can still appreciate, albeit in broad strokes, its notable compositional quality.

Interior Decoration and Later Transformations

The interior decoration of the Gate of the Palms, with the barrel vault replaced by a wooden coffered ceiling, included holy water fonts and plaster frames that housed the paintings of “Saint Peter” and “Saint Paul“, enriching the space. This work was commissioned to Don Juan Sequero de Matilla. The paintings are no longer preserved, and in their place a panel of Pope John Paul II and the coat of arms of Bishop Infantes Florido were installed, which are also no longer present today due to the death of the former Pope and the change of bishop in the diocese.

The Baroque Screen and Roman Milestones

The design of the screen that gives access to the interior of the temple is attributed to Tomás Jerónimo de Pedrajas around 1725, with the works extending until 1732. Two Roman milestones, found in 1533 during the construction of the foundations of the new Main Chapel, were placed on either side of the arch. On the one to the right, for example, we can read: “IMP. CAESAR. DIVI. F. / AVGVSTVS COS. XIII. TRIB. / POTEST. XXI. PONTIF. MAX. / A. BAETE. ET. IANO. AVGVST. / AD. OCEANVM. / LXIIII.“. Tomás Fernández Moreno tells us that around the year 1614, the letters were “gilded for greater ornamentation“, but over time, by 1730, barely any traces of the gilding remained.

Visiting the Gate of the Palms

If you wish to visit the Gate of the Palms of the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, do not hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. If you have chosen to enjoy tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option—choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.