Al-Zaytuna Mosque, Major mosque in Medina district, Tunisia
Al-Zaytuna Mosque is a large place of worship in the Medina of Tunis with nine entrances and a wide courtyard. The prayer hall is supported by 160 ancient columns made of marble and granite that come from different Roman ruins.
Hassan ibn al-Nu'man founded the mosque at the end of the 7th century, shortly after the Arab conquest of the region. Ruler Abul Ibrahim had the building completely rebuilt and expanded in the 9th century.
The name Zaytuna means olive and refers to an olive tree that supposedly stood on this site when the city was conquered. Scholars studied theology, law and grammar for centuries in the rooms surrounding the large courtyard.
Visitors who are not Muslim may enter the central courtyard and look into the prayer hall from there. The remaining areas are reserved for prayer and remain closed to tourists.
The prayer niche points in the wrong direction because the builders in the 9th century made an incorrect calculation. This mistake was never corrected and remained throughout the centuries.
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