Bab er Rouah
| Bab er Rouah | |
|---|---|
UNESCO world heritage 
|
|
|
|
| Gate building Bab er Rouah (outside) |
|
| National territory: |
 Morocco
|
| Type: | Culture |
| Criteria : | (ii) (iv) |
| Reference No .: | 1401 |
| UNESCO region : | Africa |
| History of enrollment | |
| Enrollment: | 2012 (session 36) |
The Bab er Rouah or Bab Rouah ( Arabic باب الرواح, DMG Bāb ar-Rawāḥ ) in the Moroccan capital Rabat is one of the most important sights of the city and the whole country. Together with other historical buildings in Rabat, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012 .
etymology
The name of the gate, which comes from Arabic, is usually translated as “gate of the wind”, but some things are still unclear in this regard.
location
The Bab er Rouah is located in the southwestern side of the Almohad rammed earth city wall near the Royal Palace.
history
The Bab he Rouah was founded in 1197 by order of the Almohad - Sultan Abu Yusuf Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur built (ruled 1184-1199.). It remained largely intact for centuries, but was restored to a small extent both during the French protectorate (1912–1956) and after Morocco's independence.
Architecture and building decor
The gate, which is made entirely of sandstone (also quarry stone ) and has a nearly square floor plan, is angled inside for better defense, despite the entrance and exit one behind the other. It is about 8 m high, the width of the two façades is also about 8 m; the outer facade is framed by two unadorned protruding bastions.
- outer archway
The actual archway was approx. 5 m high and designed as a horseshoe arch - slightly sharpened at the apex ; but it was partially walled up. It is covered by a multi-pass arch of overlapping arches that end in serpentine shapes on the sides; another frame made of curved and elongated panels surrounds the first. Another multi-pass arch with a complicated outer frame follows. The remaining gussets are covered with extremely flat, abstract leaves and tendrils; only the two shell ornaments, which can be understood as symbols for “water” and “fertility”, but also for “paradise”, emerge vividly. The outer, almost square, arched frame ( alfiz ) shows recurring ornamental forms; two simple cornices form the top . To the side of this there are consoles protruding over the gate , which rest on small columns without any supporting function.
- inner archway
The inner archway seems to have been better preserved overall ( horseshoe arch with Alfiz framing), but is significantly less decorated overall: the lateral arch spandrels have only slightly relief eight-passports; the outer frame shows a potentially infinite, elongated diamond pattern ( sebka ) , which develops from intersecting jagged arched lines. The side consoles end at eaves height .
gallery
The interior of the gate, which is not always open, is used by a state gallery for exhibition and event purposes; mostly modern paintings and / or carpets or ceramics etc. are shown with free admission.
See also
literature
Arnold Betten: Morocco. Antiquity, Berber Traditions and Islam - History, Art and Culture in the Maghreb. DuMont, Ostfildern 2012, p. 197, ISBN 978-3-7701-3935-4
Web links
- Bab Rouah ArchNet (English)
- Bab Rouah - Information (English)
Cultural heritage: Medina of Fez (1981) | Medina of Marrakech (1985) | Fortified city of Ait Ben Haddou (1987) | Medina of Meknes (1996) | Volubilis archaeological site (1997) | Medina of Tetouan (1997) | Essaouira Medina (Mogador) (2001) | Portuguese city of Mazagan (El Jadida) (2004) | Rabat - modern capital with a historical core (2012)
Coordinates: 34 ° 0 ′ 45.2 " N , 6 ° 50 ′ 18.2" W.