Almoravid

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Scope note
Refers to the art and culture associated with the Islamic Berber dynasty that ruled in Spain and North Africa from 1054 to 1147, when it was succeeded by the Almohad dynasty. The Almoravids developed out of a puritanical movement in western Africa that appealed to North African Berbers. The Almoravid leader Yusuf b. Tashfin founded Marrakesh in 1069. From 1090 the dynasty controlled Andalusia and it was through this connection that the Umayyad art of Spain was transplanted to North Africa. Egyptian influence was also felt. Known for their puritanical fervor, the Almoravids were mostly patrons of religious architecture. They built mosques in Tilimsen and Algiers that were inspired by the mosque at Córdoba; other noteworthy mosques were built in Fès. Almoravid architects were known for their imaginative manipulation of three-dimensional space using ornamental arches and decorative vaults, architectural forms traditionally kept apart. These and other architectural forms animate their buildings instead of applied decoration. The hallmark of their distinctively Maghribi muqarnas is that the exterior reveals nothing of the internal configuration. The muqarnas vault at Fès is built over a rectangular space and so visually acts as a suspended ceiling rather than as a traditional dome. A fountain that was once part of the Great Mosque of Marrakesh is noted for its lobed and crinkled arch forms that create a powerful sculptural rhythm.
Almoravid
Accepted term: 29-Apr-2024