Heri es-Souani
| Heri es-Souani | |
|---|---|
UNESCO world heritage 
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| Stables in Heri es-Souani |
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| National territory: |
 Morocco
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| Type: | Culture |
| Criteria : | (ii) (iv) |
| Reference No .: | 793 |
| UNESCO region : | Africa |
| History of enrollment | |
| Enrollment: | 1996 (session 20) |
The building complex known as Heri es-Souani is a huge storage tank with adjoining stables and a large water basin on the edge of the palace city (Ville Impériale) of the Moroccan city of Meknes, founded by Sultan Mulai Ismail . Along with the entire old town, the building belongs since 1996 to UNESCO - World Heritage Site .
location
The Heri es-Souani building complex is located in the south of the palace city (Ville Impériale) of Meknes, which was planned to be huge but only partially realized . The best way to get there is by taxi.
history
After his brother and predecessor Mulai ar-Raschid (ruled 1664–1672), the first Alawid sultan , had unified large parts of Morocco and entered Fez victoriously in 1666 , Sultan Moulay Ismail (ruled 1672–1727) moved at the end of 18th century the capital of Morocco from Fès to Meknes, about 60 km southwest. The area east of the old town ( medina ) offered him greater freedom for his imperial plans; it was surrounded by a separate wall of rammed earth, within which gardens, palaces, mosques, etc. were to be built. Of course, horse stables and storage facilities were also required, which were the first large structures to be built within the sultan's city.
architecture
While many historical buildings in Morocco impress with their delight in decor, the Heri es-Souani complex is the focus of interest.
The actual grain and storage facility is located directly behind the entrance. It is mainly about several windowless, elongated and barrel-vaulted rooms with meter-thick rammed earth walls , which are connected to one another by brick portals with horseshoe arches and give a first impression of the enormous dimensions of the building complex. This impression is heightened by the seemingly endless rows of - formerly roofed - stables in the rear area, in which thousands of horses and camels could be accommodated. The dividing walls are also made of rammed earth, but are only about 60 cm thick; the originally probably flat ceilings probably consisted of palm trunks with a layer of reed and earth and collapsed centuries ago - possibly as a result of the Lisbon earthquake (1755) or caused by other natural forces (wind, rain, etc.).
A large water basin (Bassin de l'Agdal) , which was essential to feed the animals , is located southwest of the building complex . Several channels from which water could be drawn run below the ground level of the Heri es-Souani.
Others
The Heri es-Souani was used in 1988 as the setting for the Martin Scorsese film The Last Temptation of Christ, which was shot in Morocco .
literature
- Arnold Betten: Morocco. Antiquity, Berber Traditions and Islam - History, Art and Culture in the Maghreb. DuMont, Ostfildern 2012, ISBN 978-3-7701-3935-4 , p. 166.
Web links
Coordinates: 33 ° 52 ′ 58 " N , 5 ° 33 ′ 25" W.