Bab Aghmat, City gate in Marrakesh, Morocco
Bab Aghmat is the southeastern gate of Marrakesh, featuring sturdy stone walls with a covered vestibule and an internal courtyard. The structure functions as a carefully designed defensive system with strategically arranged passages.
The gate was built in 1126 by the Almoravid ruler Ali ibn Yusuf and served as an important entrance in the original defensive walls. Its construction reflects the period when the city reinforced its defenses against external threats.
The gate is named after Aghmat, the former Almoravid capital, linking the history of these two Moroccan settlements. Visitors can sense this connection when observing how the structure stands as a symbol of that historical bond.
Visitors can climb the northeastern staircase to reach the rooftop, which offers views over the adjacent Jewish cemetery and the Mellah district. The rooftop provides a good vantage point to understand the surrounding area and the layout of the historic walls.
The gate originally incorporated a 180-degree bent passage design that created a symmetrical layout along the city wall axis. This clever arrangement made it harder for attackers to push directly into the city.
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