Grand Mosque of Fes el-Jdid, Marinid mosque in Fes el-Jdid, Morocco
The Grand Mosque of Fes el-Jdid is a rectangular building with a prayer hall, a central courtyard, and a decorative minaret at its northwestern corner. The structure was built from brick and wood, displaying the characteristic Islamic architecture of the Maghreb.
The building was commissioned by Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub in 1276 and constructed using labor from conquered al-Andalus. Its funding came from olive oil revenues in the region.
The mosque displays traditional Moroccan design elements such as geometric tilework and carved plaster ornaments. These details show the craftsmanship that remains visible throughout the interior today.
The building has multiple entrances on the eastern and western sides, offering various access points to the prayer hall. A central water basin in the complex serves for ritual washing before prayer.
A rectangular chamber on the western side was originally designed for spiritual retreat but transformed into a library over the centuries. This adaptation shows how religious spaces evolved to serve changing needs.
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