Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Moorish

Córdoba shares its history with many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decades, was looted by the Vandals before the Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. At that time a Christian church erected by the Visigoths was on the site, it was divided and shared by Muslims and Christians. In 784 the Christian half was purchased by Emir Abd al-Rahman I, who then demolished the church and started to build the grand mosque of Córdoba on its ground. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard. It covers an area of more than 23.000 m². Nothing in Cordoba compares to the Mezquita-Cathedral, but this place has a very long history - and an interesting archaeological museum. "Musicians" Capital Marble, Califal., 2nd half of qoth century

Córdoba shares its history with many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decades, was looted by the Vandals before the Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. At that time a Christian church erected by the Visigoths was on the site, it was divided and shared by Muslims and Christians. In 784 the Christian half was purchased by Emir Abd al-Rahman I, who then demolished the church and started to build the grand mosque of Córdoba on its ground. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard. It covers an area of more than 23.000 m². Nothing in Cordoba compares to the Mezquita-Cathedral, but this place has a very long history - and an interesting archaeological museum. Composite Capital Marble, Califal., 964/65

In 192 BC, the Romans conquered the area and founded the outpost Toletum. Due to its iron ore deposits, Toledo developed into an important settlement. Since the first barbarian invasions, the ancient walls were reinforced. In 411 the Alans and later the Visigoths conquered the city. Toledo was the capital of the Visigoths' empire from about 531 to 711. The Moors conquered the place in 712. Toledo experienced its heyday during the period of Moorish rule as Ṭulayṭula during the Caliphate of Córdoba until its conquest by Alfonso VI in 1085, after a four-year siege. In 1088, only a few years after the conquest, Archbishop Bernard of Toledo obtained confirmation from Pope Urban II that Toledo should hold the "primatus in totis Hispaniarum regnis" (primacy in all the kingdoms of the Iberian dominions). The Archbishop of Toledo is still today the Primate of the Catholic Church of Spain. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Toledo school of translators translated ancient philosophical writings (Plato, Aristotle) that had been translated from Greek into Arabic, but also genuinely Arabic writings from the fields of astronomy, mathematics, Islamic religion and theology into Latin. After the conquest by Alfonso VI, Toledo became the residence of the Kingdom of Castile in 1087 and remained the capital of Spain until 1561. In the 12th century, more than 12,000 Jews lived in Toledo. According to an inscription, this synagogue was built in 1180, but it probably only acquired its current appearance in the 13th century. It is considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing. After the attacks on the Jewish quarter in 1355 and 1391 and the emigration of many Jews, it was converted into a Catholic church in 1405. The synagogue is a Mudéjar construction, created by Moorish architects. But it can also be considered one of the finest examples of Almohad architecture. The plain white interior walls as well as the use of brick and of pillars instead of columns are characteristics of Almohad architecture.

In 192 BC, the Romans conquered the area and founded the outpost Toletum. Due to its iron ore deposits, Toledo developed into an important settlement. Since the first barbarian invasions, the ancient walls were reinforced. In 411 the Alans and later the Visigoths conquered the city. Toledo was the capital of the Visigoths' empire from about 531 to 711. The Moors conquered the place in 712. Toledo experienced its heyday during the period of Moorish rule as Ṭulayṭula during the Caliphate of Córdoba until its conquest by Alfonso VI in 1085, after a four-year siege. In 1088, only a few years after the conquest, Archbishop Bernard of Toledo obtained confirmation from Pope Urban II that Toledo should hold the "primatus in totis Hispaniarum regnis" (primacy in all the kingdoms of the Iberian dominions). The Archbishop of Toledo is still today the Primate of the Catholic Church of Spain. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Toledo school of translators translated ancient philosophical writings (Plato, Aristotle) that had been translated from Greek into Arabic, but also genuinely Arabic writings from the fields of astronomy, mathematics, Islamic religion and theology into Latin. After the conquest by Alfonso VI, Toledo became the residence of the Kingdom of Castile in 1087 and remained the capital of Spain until 1561. In the 12th century, more than 12,000 Jews lived in Toledo. According to an inscription, this synagogue was built in 1180, but it probably only acquired its current appearance in the 13th century. It is considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing. After the attacks on the Jewish quarter in 1355 and 1391 and the emigration of many Jews, it was converted into a Catholic church in 1405. The synagogue is a Mudéjar construction, created by Moorish architects. But it can also be considered one of the finest examples of Almohad architecture. The plain white interior walls as well as the use of brick and of pillars instead of columns are characteristics of Almohad architecture.

In 192 BC, the Romans conquered the area and founded the outpost Toletum. Due to its iron ore deposits, Toledo developed into an important settlement. Since the first barbarian invasions, the ancient walls were reinforced. In 411 the Alans and later the Visigoths conquered the city. Toledo was the capital of the Visigoths' empire from about 531 to 711. The Moors conquered the place in 712. Toledo experienced its heyday during the period of Moorish rule as Ṭulayṭula during the Caliphate of Córdoba until its conquest by Alfonso VI in 1085, after a four-year siege. In 1088, only a few years after the conquest, Archbishop Bernard of Toledo obtained confirmation from Pope Urban II that Toledo should hold the "primatus in totis Hispaniarum regnis" (primacy in all the kingdoms of the Iberian dominions). The Archbishop of Toledo is still today the Primate of the Catholic Church of Spain. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Toledo school of translators translated ancient philosophical writings (Plato, Aristotle) that had been translated from Greek into Arabic, but also genuinely Arabic writings from the fields of astronomy, mathematics, Islamic religion and theology into Latin. After the conquest by Alfonso VI, Toledo became the residence of the Kingdom of Castile in 1087 and remained the capital of Spain until 1561. In the 12th century, more than 12,000 Jews lived in Toledo. According to an inscription, this synagogue was built in 1180, but it probably only acquired its current appearance in the 13th century. It is considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing. After the attacks on the Jewish quarter in 1355 and 1391 and the emigration of many Jews, it was converted into a Catholic church in 1405. The synagogue is a Mudéjar construction, created by Moorish architects. But it can also be considered one of the finest examples of Almohad architecture. The plain white interior walls as well as the use of brick and of pillars instead of columns are characteristics of Almohad architecture.

In 192 BC, the Romans conquered the area and founded the outpost Toletum. Due to its iron ore deposits, Toledo developed into an important settlement. Since the first barbarian invasions, the ancient walls were reinforced. In 411 the Alans and later the Visigoths conquered the city. Toledo was the capital of the Visigoths' empire from about 531 to 711. The Moors conquered the place in 712. Toledo experienced its heyday during the period of Moorish rule as Ṭulayṭula during the Caliphate of Córdoba until its conquest by Alfonso VI in 1085, after a four-year siege. In 1088, only a few years after the conquest, Archbishop Bernard of Toledo obtained confirmation from Pope Urban II that Toledo should hold the "primatus in totis Hispaniarum regnis" (primacy in all the kingdoms of the Iberian dominions). The Archbishop of Toledo is still today the Primate of the Catholic Church of Spain. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Toledo school of translators translated ancient philosophical writings (Plato, Aristotle) that had been translated from Greek into Arabic, but also genuinely Arabic writings from the fields of astronomy, mathematics, Islamic religion and theology into Latin. After the conquest by Alfonso VI, Toledo became the residence of the Kingdom of Castile in 1087 and remained the capital of Spain until 1561. In the 12th century, more than 12,000 Jews lived in Toledo. According to an inscription, this synagogue was built in 1180, but it probably only acquired its current appearance in the 13th century. It is considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing. After the attacks on the Jewish quarter in 1355 and 1391 and the emigration of many Jews, it was converted into a Catholic church in 1405. The synagogue is a Mudéjar construction, created by Moorish architects. But it can also be considered one of the finest examples of Almohad architecture. The plain white interior walls as well as the use of brick and of pillars instead of columns are characteristics of Almohad architecture.

In 192 BC, the Romans conquered the area and founded the outpost Toletum. Due to its iron ore deposits, Toledo developed into an important settlement. Since the first barbarian invasions, the ancient walls were reinforced. In 411 the Alans and later the Visigoths conquered the city. Toledo was the capital of the Visigoths' empire from about 531 to 711. The Moors conquered the place in 712. Toledo experienced its heyday during the period of Moorish rule as Ṭulayṭula during the Caliphate of Córdoba until its conquest by Alfonso VI in 1085, after a four-year siege. In 1088, only a few years after the conquest, Archbishop Bernard of Toledo obtained confirmation from Pope Urban II that Toledo should hold the "primatus in totis Hispaniarum regnis" (primacy in all the kingdoms of the Iberian dominions). The Archbishop of Toledo is still today the Primate of the Catholic Church of Spain. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Toledo school of translators translated ancient philosophical writings (Plato, Aristotle) that had been translated from Greek into Arabic, but also genuinely Arabic writings from the fields of astronomy, mathematics, Islamic religion and theology into Latin. After the conquest by Alfonso VI, Toledo became the residence of the Kingdom of Castile in 1087 and remained the capital of Spain until 1561. In the 12th century, more than 12,000 Jews lived in Toledo. According to an inscription, this synagogue was built in 1180, but it probably only acquired its current appearance in the 13th century. It is considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing. After the attacks on the Jewish quarter in 1355 and 1391 and the emigration of many Jews, it was converted into a Catholic church in 1405. The synagogue is a Mudéjar construction, created by Moorish architects. But it can also be considered one of the finest examples of Almohad architecture. The plain white interior walls as well as the use of brick and of pillars instead of columns are characteristics of Almohad architecture.

Antequera was known during Roman times as "Anticaria" and had existed already centuries, when the Romans took over the area from the Carthaginians after the Punic Wars. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the area fell to the Vandals in the 410s. They were attacked by the Visigoths, who incarporated it into the Visigothic Kingdom. During the Arab invasion Anticaria was conquered around 716 and, when the Reconquista rolled south, it became one of the northern cities of the remaining Nasrid kingdom of Granada. Fortifications were built and a Moorish castle, named Alcazaba, erected. For about two hundred years the Medina, located inside the Alcazaba, was attacked repeatedly. In 1410, an army led by Prince Ferdinand of Aragon conquered it. Antequera became part of the Kingdom of Castile, the Muslims were driven out. The city became a Catholic fortress against the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, and a base for continuing conquest. After Granada, the last Moorish city, capitulated in 1492, Antequera began to recover from the centuries of fighting. Real Colegiata de San Sebastián, located in the city center, was built between 1540 and 1549. The massive brick tower, 60 metres high, one of Antequera´s landmarks, was built between 1701 and 1706. It is crowned by a golden weather flag called "El Angelote", which is almost three and a half metres high.

Antequera was known during Roman times as "Anticaria" and had existed already centuries, when the Romans took over the area from the Carthaginians after the Punic Wars. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the area fell to the Vandals in the 410s. They were attacked by the Visigoths, who incarporated it into the Visigothic Kingdom. During the Arab invasion Anticaria was conquered around 716 and, when the Reconquista rolled south, it became one of the northern cities of the remaining Nasrid kingdom of Granada. Fortifications were built and a Moorish castle, named Alcazaba, erected. For about two hundred years the Medina, located inside the Alcazaba, was attacked repeatedly. In 1410, an army led by Prince Ferdinand of Aragon conquered it. Antequera became part of the Kingdom of Castile, the Muslims were driven out. The city became a Catholic fortress against the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, and a base for continuing conquest. After Granada, the last Moorish city, capitulated in 1492, Antequera began to recover from the centuries of fighting. Santa María de Jesús was completed in 1615. During the French invasion the church got severely damaged, but got rebuilt in the 19th century.

Antequera was known during Roman times as "Anticaria" and had existed already centuries, when the Romans took over the area from the Carthaginians after the Punic Wars. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the area fell to the Vandals in the 410s. They were attacked by the Visigoths, who incarporated it into the Visigothic Kingdom. During the Arab invasion Anticaria was conquered around 716 and, when the Reconquista rolled south, it became one of the northern cities of the remaining Nasrid kingdom of Granada. Fortifications were built and a Moorish castle, named Alcazaba, erected. For about two hundred years the Medina, located inside the Alcazaba, was attacked repeatedly. In 1410, an army led by Prince Ferdinand of Aragon conquered it. Antequera became part of the Kingdom of Castile, the Muslims were driven out. The city became a Catholic fortress against the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, and a base for continuing conquest. After Granada, the last Moorish city, capitulated in 1492, Antequera began to recover from the centuries of fighting. In 1503 the existing small Iglesia de Santa María de la Esperanza was converted into a into a collegiate church. This church got demolished and the new church, seen today, was completed in 1550. Seen on the left is a statue of Pedro Espinosa (1578-1650), a poet and writer born in Antequera. He taught here for several years.

Antequera was known during Roman times as "Anticaria" and had existed already centuries, when the Romans took over the area from the Carthaginians after the Punic Wars. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the area fell to the Vandals in the 410s. They were attacked by the Visigoths, who incarporated it into the Visigothic Kingdom. During the Arab invasion Anticaria was conquered around 716 and, when the Reconquista rolled south, it became one of the northern cities of the remaining Nasrid kingdom of Granada. Fortifications were built and a Moorish castle, named Alcazaba, erected. For about two hundred years the Medina, located inside the Alcazaba, was attacked repeatedly. In 1410, an army led by Prince Ferdinand of Aragon conquered it. Antequera became part of the Kingdom of Castile, the Muslims were driven out. The city became a Catholic fortress against the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, and a base for continuing conquest. After Granada, the last Moorish city, capitulated in 1492, Antequera began to recover from the centuries of fighting.

Antequera was known during Roman times as "Anticaria" and had existed already centuries, when the Romans took over the area from the Carthaginians after the Punic Wars. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the area fell to the Vandals in the 410s. They were attacked by the Visigoths, who incarporated it into the Visigothic Kingdom. During the Arab invasion Anticaria was conquered around 716 and, when the Reconquista rolled south, it became one of the northern cities of the remaining Nasrid kingdom of Granada. Fortifications were built and a Moorish castle, named Alcazaba, erected. For about two hundred years the Medina, located inside the Alcazaba, was attacked repeatedly. In 1410, an army led by Prince Ferdinand of Aragon conquered it. Antequera became part of the Kingdom of Castile, the Muslims were driven out. The city became a Catholic fortress against the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, and a base for continuing conquest. After Granada, the last Moorish city, capitulated in 1492, Antequera began to recover from the centuries of fighting. The "Alcazaba de Antequera" built in the 14th century over Roman ruins gor reinforced after the conquest was used by the Catholic armees.

The first church here was an oratorium, erected built around 370 over a Roman graveyard and dedicated to St. Hilary, the first bishop of Poitiers. This chapel was destroyed by Vandals in 412, got rebuilt and got destroyed again by the Huns in 453. After that a convent settled here and rebuilt the oratorium, but it got again pillaged and ruined by Moorish and later Norman troops. The large church seen today dates mostly from the 11th century. A fire around 1100 destroyed the wooden roof. The new roof was from stone. It was so heavy that an extra row of columns on each side of the nave had to be build at that time. Thanks to the tomb of Saint-Hilaire, the church attracted many pilgrims following the Via Turonensis on their way to Santiago de Compostela. This tradition goes on, as even today there is a special "tampon" for the visiting "pelerins". Protestant troops damaged and pillaged the church in 1572 and when the tower collapsed in 1590, the facade and aisles were badly damaged. More damage and pillaging took place during the Revolution in 1793. The church was restored in 1870. The western part of the nave got demolished, the shortened nave got rebuilt from the ground up. It is no surprise, that a building ruined and neglected such a long time is dotted with graffiti. This was an "open space" for all over a century. To the left are some traces of a frescoe.

The first church here was an oratorium, erected around 370 over a Roman graveyard and dedicated to St. Hilary, the first bishop of Poitiers. This chapel was destroyed by Vandals in 412, got rebuilt and got destroyed again by the Huns in 453. After that a convent settled here and rebuilt the oratorium, but it got again pillaged and ruined by Moorish and later Norman troops. The large church seen today dates mostly from the 11th century. A fire around 1100 destroyed the wooden roof. The new roof was from stone. It was so heavy that an extra row of columns on each side of the nave had to be build at that time. Thanks to the tomb of Saint-Hilaire, the church attracted many pilgrims following the Via Turonensis on their way to Santiago de Compostela. This tradition goes on, as even today there is a special "tampon" for the visiting "pelerins". Protestant troops damaged and pillaged the church in 1572 and when the tower collapsed in 1590, the facade and aisles were badly damaged. More damage and pillaging took place during the Revolution in 1793. The church was restored in 1870. The western part of the nave got demolished, the shortened nave (seen here from east to west) got rebuilt from the ground up.

The first church here was an oratorium, erected around 370 over a Roman graveyard and dedicated to St. Hilary, the first bishop of Poitiers. This chapel was destroyed by Vandals in 412, got rebuilt and got destroyed again by the Huns in 453. After that a convent settled here and rebuilt the oratorium, but it got again pillaged and ruined by Moorish and later Norman troops. The large church seen today dates mostly from the 11th century. A fire around 1100 destroyed the wooden roof. The new roof was from stone. It was so heavy that an extra row of columns on each side of the nave had to be build at that time. Thanks to the tomb of Saint-Hilaire, the church attracted many pilgrims following the Via Turonensis on their way to Santiago de Compostela. This tradition goes on, as even today there is a special "tampon" for the visiting "pelerins". Protestant troops damaged and pillaged the church in 1572 and when the tower collapsed in 1590, the facade and aisles were badly damaged. More damage and pillaging took place during the Revolution in 1793. The church was restored in 1870. The western part of the nave got demolished, the shortened nave (seen here) got rebuilt from the ground up. As two additional rows of columns had to be added, when the new roof got installed (~1150), it seem like the nave has two aisles on either side.

The first church here was an oratorium, erected around 370 over a Roman graveyard and dedicated to St. Hilary, the first bishop of Poitiers. This chapel was destroyed by Vandals in 412, got rebuilt and got destroyed again by the Huns in 453. After that a convent settled here and rebuilt the oratorium, but it got again pillaged and ruined by Moorish and later Norman troops. The large church seen today dates mostly from the 11th century. A fire around 1100 destroyed the wooden roof. The new roof was from stone. It was so heavy that an extra row of columns on each side of the nave had to be build at that time. Thanks to the tomb of Saint-Hilaire, the church attracted many pilgrims following the Via Turonensis on their way to Santiago de Compostela. This tradition goes on, as even today there is a special "tampon" for the visiting "pelerins". Protestant troops damaged and pillaged the church in 1572 and when the tower collapsed in 1590, the facade and aisles were badly damaged. More damage and pillaging took place during the Revolution in 1793. The church was restored in 1870. The western part of the nave got demolished, the shortened nave (seen here) got rebuilt from the ground up. Seen from here is a part of the crypt. Here once were the relics of Saint Hilaire. When the Normans approached Poitiers in the 9th century, the relics were "translated" to Le Puy-en-Velay, where they were re-discovered in 1655. Only one single bone was given back - and so only this bone can be venerated in the crypt. This crypt was locked, as I was too late.

The first church here was an oratorium, erected around 370 over a Roman graveyard and dedicated to St. Hilary, the first bishop of Poitiers. This chapel was destroyed by Vandals in 412, got rebuilt and got destroyed again by the Huns in 453. After that a convent settled here and rebuilt the oratorium, but it got again pillaged and ruined by Moorish and later Norman troops. The large church seen today dates mostly from the 11th century. A fire around 1100 destroyed the wooden roof. The new roof was from stone. It was so heavy that an extra row of columns on each side of the nave had to be build at that time. Thanks to the tomb of Saint-Hilaire, the church attracted many pilgrims following the Via Turonensis on their way to Santiago de Compostela. This tradition goes on, as even today there is a special "tampon" for the visiting "pelerins". Protestant troops damaged and pillaged the church in 1572 and when the tower collapsed in 1590, the facade and aisles were badly damaged. More damage and pillaging took place during the Revolution in 1793. The church was restored in 1870. This involved the rebuilding of the nave from the ground up. The western part of the nave got demolished and the (shortened) structure got a new facade The ambulatory and the chapels in the dim evening light.