The Great Mosque of Cordoba Nolan Brennan
Foreword:
Over nearly 1000 years, the area that would come to be the known as the Great Mosque of Corodoba, the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, and the Mezquita de Córdoba was occupied and experienced architectural creation by 4 distinct cultures. The early disputed creation of the Roman temple to Janus in then Hispania, the creation of an archetypal Visigothic church after the conquering of the Visigoths, the centuries of expansion upon the Great Mosque’s initial boundaries, and the final addition of a Christian chapel within the mosque following the Christian reconquest of Spain. This final addition and the centuries of Islamic occupation during the height of legendary caliphate, al-Andalus, today inspires heated debates and condemnations from Spain’s mixed ethnic and religious society.
Pre-Islamic Cordoba: Roman Temple to Janus (Disputed)
Pre-Islamic Cordoba: Visigothic Church of Saint Vincent
Islamic Cordoba (al-Andalus) 784 - Abd al-Rahman I Creation of mosque foundation to address growing population, inspired by Great Mosque of Damascus
Islamic Cordoba (al-Andalus) 921 - Abd al-Rahman II Addition of singular minaret and interior aisle expansion
Islamic Cordoba (al-Andalus) 965 - Abd al-Hakam II Expansion of the Interior Aisles
Reconquista Spain 1236 - King Ferdinand IIII (Alfonso X) Addition of Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción