Great Mosque of Samarra, 9th century mosque in Samarra, Iraq
The Great Mosque of Samarra is a historic place of worship in the city of Samarra in present-day Iraq, measuring 239 meters long and 156 meters wide. Fortified outer walls of baked brick surround the entire grounds and form an enclosed rectangular compound.
Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil ordered its construction between 848 and 851 when Samarra served as the capital of the caliphate. Later conflicts damaged parts of the complex, but the basic structure and the spiral tower have largely survived.
The name Malwiya comes from the Arabic word for spiral, describing the external ramp that winds around the tower. Worshippers once used this path to reach the summit and call the faithful to prayer across the city.
Access is through the outer walls, and the open layout allows free movement within the grounds. The spiral ramp of the tower is currently closed to visitors, but views from ground level provide a good sense of the overall structure.
The spiral form of the tower resembles the stepped structures of ancient Mesopotamia, connecting local traditions with new religious requirements. Archaeologists believe the builders drew inspiration from older structures in the region.
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