Koutoubia Mosque - Marrakech, Morocco
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 31° 37.450 W 007° 59.606
29R E 595463 N 3499218
This mosque was completed in the 12th century.
Waymark Code: WMHAYP
Location: Morocco
Date Posted: 06/17/2013
Views: 26
Wikipedia (
visit link) informs us:
"The Koutoubia Mosque or Kutubiyya Mosque ... is the largest mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. The mosque is also known by several other names, such as Jami' al-Kutubiyah, Kotoubia Mosque, Kutubiya Mosque, Kutubiyyin Mosque, and Mosque of the Booksellers. It is located in the southwest medina quarter of Marrakech. The mosque is ornamented with curved windows, a band of ceramic inlay, pointed merlons, and decorative arches; it has a large plaza with gardens, and is floodlit at night. The minaret, 77 metres (253 ft) in height, includes a spire and orbs. It was completed under the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur (1184 to 1199), and has inspired other buildings such as the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat...
The mosque is made of red stone, formerly plastered, and has six rooms in succession, one above the other. It was designed so as to prevent anyone gazing in from the minaret to the harems of the king. Even in the modern day, such restrictions are enforced by blocking Google Earth access to Moroccans. Architectural details of the old mosque and the new mosque are identical except for the orientation. Hence, what is true of one holds true for the other, though the first mosque is now derelict.[1] It is designed in a traditional Almohad style and the tower is adorned with copper globes."