Mosquée de Sidi Bou Merouane, 11th century mosque in Annaba, Algeria.
Mosquée de Sidi Bou Merouane is an 11th century mosque in Annaba with seven naves extending perpendicular and parallel throughout the prayer hall. The interior features intersecting arches that create a layered spatial composition across the entire worship space.
The mosque was built in 1033 under Al-Mu'izz ibn Badis, the fourth Zirid ruler, during a period of significant dynasty expansion. This date marks a time when the Zirids were establishing major religious centers across North Africa.
The building reflects a blend of North African Islamic design that developed under multiple dynasties over centuries. Visitors can observe how the interior combines different decorative and structural approaches that shaped the region's religious architecture.
The mosque has a three-tiered square minaret with a separate prayer room that visitors can access through marked doorways throughout the structure. The layout allows you to move through and observe the different sections clearly.
The interior contains Zirid-era capitals decorated with patterns similar to those found in the mosques of Sousse and Monastir in neighboring regions. These connections show how architectural styles and decorative techniques spread across major centers of the medieval North African world.
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