Archnet > Site > Upper Terrace of the Alcázar, al-Madinat al-Zahra’ (MEGT)

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The construction of al-Madinat al-Zahra’ (Medina Azahara) in the place called al-Djabal al-‘Arus (Bride’s Hill), located on the southern slope of the Sierra, began in 936 during the reign of ‘Abd al-Rahman III (912–961) and continued during the reign of his son Al-Hakam II (961–976). It was burned in 1010 by the Berbers. Al-Madinat al-Zahra’ was organized on three terraces descending toward the river Guadalquivir and occupied a surface of 115 ha, of which only five percent has been excavated. Although in ruins, the terraces were still visible in the twelfth century: al-Idrisi referred to gardens and orchards in the middle terrace. He was probably referring to the Upper Garden, the ceremonial garden where ambassadors were received, and to the Lower Garden, most likely the Caliph’s private garden. According to al-Maqqari, the Upper Garden pools, which may have held up 1,000 cubic meters of water, were used to raise fish.

The Upper Terrace was a quadripartite garden with a pavilion in the center surrounded by four pools and another pavilion overlooking the Lower Terrace Garden.

Sources: Court Chronicle, 10th century | Archaeological Analysis, 20th century

-Antonio Almagro

Resources:

Anales palatinos del Califa de Córdoba al-Hakam II (Open in Zotero)

Descripción de Espana (obra del siglo XII) (Open in Zotero)

La arquitectura en al-Andalus en torno al año 1000: Madinat al-Zahra (Open in Zotero)

Los jardines de Madinat al-Zahra’ (Open in Zotero)

El proyecto urbanístico del estado califal: Madinat al Zahra’ (Open in Zotero)

Gardens, Landscape, and Vision in the Palaces of Islamic Spain (Open in Zotero)

Originally posted at:

Almagro, Antonio. “Upper Terrace of the Alcázar, al-Madinat al-Zahra.” Middle East Garden Traditions. Dumbarton Oaks, November 18, 2014. https://www.doaks.org/resources/middle-east-garden-traditions/catalogue#b_start=0&c6=Andalusian++Gardens. Archived at: https://perma.cc/J8KF-DV5P

Córdoba, Spain

Introduction to the Catalogue of Andalusian Gardens

711-1031

Dumbarton Oaks MEGT Record

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The construction of al-Madinat al-Zahra’ (Medina Azahara) in the place called al-Djabal al-‘Arus (Bride’s Hill), located on the southern slope of the Sierra, began in 936 during the reign of ‘Abd al-Rahman III (912–961) and continued during the reign of his son Al-Hakam II (961–976). It was burned in 1010 by the Berbers. Al-Madinat al-Zahra’ was organized on three terraces descending toward the river Guadalquivir and occupied a surface of 115 ha, of which only five percent has been excavated. Although in ruins, the terraces were still visible in the twelfth century: al-Idrisi referred to gardens and orchards in the middle terrace. He was probably referring to the Upper Garden, the ceremonial garden where ambassadors were received, and to the Lower Garden, most likely the Caliph’s private garden. According to al-Maqqari, the Upper Garden pools, which may have held up 1,000 cubic meters of water, were used to raise fish.

The Upper Terrace was a quadripartite garden with a pavilion in the center surrounded by four pools and another pavilion overlooking the Lower Terrace Garden.