Page 17 - English MPNCI Guide

The Prayer Hall

This hall houses a collection of important manuscripts
in addition to its distinctive architectural beauty. It was
originally the prayer hall of the mosque and it is divided
into three naves and three aisles bordered by two arcades
of broken arches resting on marble columns consisting of
a base, body and crown.
As for the roof, it was made of interlocking beams of carved
cedar wood, consisting of three parts, where each part is in
the shape of a gable with a pyramid facade covered on the
outside with tiled pieces.
On the other hand, the mihrab, designed in a hexagonal
form, features a semi-circular arch supported by two
columns and two onyx capitals. Its framework rests on
two horizontal bands that bear inscriptions. «Above, the
archway is composed of off-centre arches and radiating
keystones, surrounded by three tangential borders and
complemented by cornerstones adorned with floral motifs.
The decoration of this mihrab is considered one of the
masterpieces of stucco engraving. This mihrab in fact,
represents the pinnacle of Andalusian art, with a hexagonal
design covered by a dome with stalactites similar to those
in the Qarawiyin Mosque in Fez, Tinmal Mosque and
Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech.

14