Back to Search

The Great Mosque of Sousse
(الجامع الكبير في سوسة)

Title	The Great Mosque of Sousse
Title Original	الجامع الكبير في سوسة
Author	Mudam, a slave freed by the founder of the mosque.
Author Original	مودام، وهو عبد أعتقه الشخص المؤسس للجامع
Publication Date:	236-247 AH/851-862 AD
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Library:	Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID	monument;ISL;tn;Mon01;5;ar
Library Location	Sousse, Tunisia
Date	236-247 AH/851-862 AD
Notes	The Great Mosque of Sousse consists of a prayer hall preceded by a courtyard that is wider than deep (41 x 26 metres) and surrounded by porticoes on three sides. Meanwhile, the fourth gallery in front of the prayer hall constitutes an annex that most likely dates back to the 5th century AH / 11th century AD. Above the façade is an inscription in Kufic script, carved in relief on the landmark stone, and drawn in a long horizontal line, indicating the name of Mudam, the slave whom the prince freed, and who was charged with supervising the construction works. This frame represents the oldest frieze containing an inscription adorning a landmark façade that has survived to this day. The Great Mosque in Sousse does not contain a minaret, and the call to prayer takes place from the roof of the northeastern corner tower, which is surmounted by a small dome, which can be reached by a staircase from the courtyard. As for the prayer hall, it has the shape of a quadrilateral (59 x 51 metres), and is divided into thirteen naves and six bays. The middle court is wider than the others and is surmounted by two domes. The dome of the mihrab is semi-spherical and rests on a cylinder with eight convex sides. The base consists of a block decorated with mosaic ornaments, and is supported from the inside by corner arches. This hall is covered with barrel vaults supported by double semicircular arches. The vaults are based on cruciform supports. As for the mihrab, it dates back to the Zirid era, as evidenced by the decoration on the background of the semi-cylindrical niche and the rings bearing inscriptions in lush Kufic script.
Sample Text	Jamila Binous “The Great Mosque of Sousse” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;tn;Mon01;5;ar

View in source Museum With No Frontiers Museum With No Frontiers - Ottoman library catalog search

Museum With No Frontiers

The Great Mosque of Sousse

(الجامع الكبير في سوسة)

Author Mudam, a slave freed by the founder of the mosque.

Author Original مودام، وهو عبد أعتقه الشخص المؤسس للجامع

Publication Date 236-247 AH/851-862 AD

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Library Museum With No Frontiers

Record ID monument;ISL;tn;Mon01;5;ar

Library Location Sousse, Tunisia

Date 236-247 AH/851-862 AD

Notes The Great Mosque of Sousse consists of a prayer hall preceded by a courtyard that is wider than deep (41 x 26 metres) and surrounded by porticoes on three sides. Meanwhile, the fourth gallery in front of the prayer hall constitutes an annex that most likely dates back to the 5th century AH / 11th century AD. Above the façade is an inscription in Kufic script, carved in relief on the landmark stone, and drawn in a long horizontal line, indicating the name of Mudam, the slave whom the prince freed, and who was charged with supervising the construction works. This frame represents the oldest frieze containing an inscription adorning a landmark façade that has survived to this day. The Great Mosque in Sousse does not contain a minaret, and the call to prayer takes place from the roof of the northeastern corner tower, which is surmounted by a small dome, which can be reached by a staircase from the courtyard. As for the prayer hall, it has the shape of a quadrilateral (59 x 51 metres), and is divided into thirteen naves and six bays. The middle court is wider than the others and is surmounted by two domes. The dome of the mihrab is semi-spherical and rests on a cylinder with eight convex sides. The base consists of a block decorated with mosaic ornaments, and is supported from the inside by corner arches. This hall is covered with barrel vaults supported by double semicircular arches. The vaults are based on cruciform supports. As for the mihrab, it dates back to the Zirid era, as evidenced by the decoration on the background of the semi-cylindrical niche and the rings bearing inscriptions in lush Kufic script.

Sample Text Jamila Binous “The Great Mosque of Sousse” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;tn;Mon01;5;ar