Almoravid Koubba, Archaeological monument in Medina of Marrakesh, Morocco
The Almoravid Koubba is a small building in Marrakesh's medina with finely carved stucco decorations and a vaulted dome covered in geometric patterns. The structure features pyramid-shaped battlements and ornate surface details visible from every angle.
This structure was built in 1117 to serve ablutions next to the Ben Youssef Mosque. Over centuries, it became buried beneath layers of new construction until its rediscovery in 1952.
The decorative motifs here, featuring pine cones and acanthus leaves, shaped how buildings across Marrakesh were designed for centuries. You can see these same details repeated throughout the medina as you walk through the streets.
The entrance sits two flights of stairs below current street level since Marrakesh's ground has risen substantially over nine centuries. This descent can be challenging for those with limited mobility.
The foundations bear one of the oldest known inscriptions in Maghrebi script ever found in North Africa. This early calligraphy reveals how writing was practiced in the region during the 12th century.
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