Alhaken II. The second expansion

aThe growth of the Muslim population in the capital of the caliphate during the 10th century compelled the second Caliph, Alhaken II (961–976), to undertake a new expansion of the mosque, which may be the richest and most original of all. This claim is supported by the excellent ornamental interpretation of the whole, which achieved a scenographic effect unmatched before or after; secondly, the work of the builders stands out for achieving the greatest decorative effect without taking architectural risks; thirdly, the aforementioned respect for the previous structures of the mosque; fourthly, the presence in our capital of Byzantine mosaic craftsmen, reflecting the fluid relations between Córdoba and Constantinople; and finally, the high quality in the design and execution of carvings by the workshops of Medina Azahara.

Expansion of the Mosque of Córdoba

The expansion took place between the years 961–965. Caliph Alhaken II entrusted the direction of the works to his first minister (hayib), Yafar Ibn Abderramán. The names of other craftsmen involved in the project appear in the inscriptions in the Mihrab. This expansion consisted of the extension of the 11 naves of the mosque towards the south, adding 12 more sections and a double qibla wall. It can be said that the extended space could constitute a mosque within the mosque. The previous qibla was replaced by strong polylobed horseshoe arches, which serve as an interior façade and indicate to the visitor or the Muslim worshiper that they are entering a new architectural zone.

In the central nave, the entrance arch leads to a square vaulted space, functioning as a skylight and serving as a sign to the Muslim worshiper that the area reserved for the highest political and religious authority, the Macsura, begins there. According to Islamic sources, this space was enclosed by a tall carved wooden fence and sealed with a rich door covered in gold and silver, with ebony jambs. The skylight was enclosed by three screens of polylobed and interlaced arches, of which only two remain: those to the south and east (the other disappeared to build the Main Chapel of the Cathedral in the 15th century). The arches are arranged over a double order of columns of different sizes: the upper order supports three horseshoe arches, and the lower order three lobed ones, corresponding to those used as ties in the naves. Above the keystones of the lower arches, lobed segments rise and intertwine to simulate arches, but their purpose is purely decorative.

The Construction of the Mihrab of the Mosque

The roof consists of a dome formed by a vault with eight ribs that cross each other, leaving a central square opening and surrounding triangular and rectangular ones. These openings are decorated with ribbed or scalloped small vaults. Light enters through a crown of lobed arch windows, which open in the wall between the aforementioned ribs. This scheme is repeated more perfectly in the three skylights rising in front of the Mihrab, the central one being the most spectacular. Of note are the extremely rich tesserae, crafted by Byzantine artisans, which adorn the ribs of the dome. These tesserae, made of glass paste, are coated in gold or treated with bright colors alternating with marble pieces.

Regarding the façade of the Mihrab, its base consists of carved marble panels with ataurique decoration. The central arch rests on jambs incorporating the columns of the Mihrab of Abderramán II; it is framed by an alfiz, whose spandrels are adorned with vegetal scroll carvings. A frieze, like a second alfiz, bears laudatory inscriptions to Allah in mosaic on a blue background. A series of blind polylobed arches crowns the ensemble. The chamber that constitutes the Mihrab is the most sacred place in the mosque, as it is where the holy book of Muslims is kept. It has an octagonal floor plan and, in elevation, a base of marble panels, above which is a carved frieze decorated with five blind polylobed arches outlined with verses from the Qur’an. The roof is of carved plaster in the shape of a shell.

The Central Nave of Alhaken II

The structure of the prayer hall is very similar to that of the Mihrab. The central nave was more richly decorated, in proportion to its importance. The columns have meticulously selected shafts, alternating marble and jasper in red and blue tones, and are topped with acanthus-leaf capitals, alternating between Corinthian and Composite orders. The carved beam ceilings of the macsura are the richest in the mosque, and their restoration was carried out by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco in the second half of the 19th century.

Finally, three new doors were opened on the western façade, following the model of the aforementioned Visires Gate, although altered by centuries of changes to the building: the central one, called Postigo de Palacio, is a Gothic-style reconstruction; the lateral ones – of the Holy Spirit and of Saint Ildefonso – were restored by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco. On the eastern side, remains of the corresponding doors can still be seen in the old exterior wall that was incorporated into the expansion by Almanzor.

If you would like to learn more about the expansion commissioned by Caliph Alhaken II at 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’ve chosen to enjoy tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option—choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: Jesús Pijuán.