Great Mosque of Kairouan, Mosque in Kairouan, Tunisia
The Great Mosque of Kairouan is a place of worship in Kairouan, Tunisia, ranking among the most significant Islamic buildings in North Africa. The prayer hall rests on rows of marble and stone columns, while the courtyard is framed by covered arcades that provide shade and circulation.
An Arab commander founded the building in the seventh century after Christ, as Islamic armies spread across North Africa. Rulers from the Aghlabid dynasty expanded it substantially two centuries later, creating the present layout with its arcades and tall tower.
The name derives from the Arabic word for military camp, marking the site where soldiers once gathered. Visitors today notice columns salvaged from Roman ruins across North Africa, giving the prayer hall a layered character that blends civilizations.
The courtyard offers space to linger, while the surrounding corridors provide protection from the sun and help with orientation. Visitors should dress modestly and can use different entrances depending on whether they come to pray or simply explore the building.
A wooden pulpit from the ninth century is considered the oldest surviving example of its kind in the Islamic world. The panels show carvings that merge techniques from Byzantium and Mesopotamia, brought here through trade routes that crossed continents.
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