Publication Date
The mosque was built in 252 AH / 866 AD, then it was renovated and the minaret was added to it in 844 AH / 1440 AD.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;tn;Mon01;26;ar
Library Location
Kairouan, Tunisia
Date
The mosque was built in 252 AH / 866 AD, then it was renovated and the minaret was added to it in 844 AH / 1440 AD.
Notes
The Ibn Khairun Mosque, or the Three-Door Mosque, contains the oldest carved and decorated facade of Islamic art that has come down to us; This façade in itself constitutes a typical census of the total number of Kairouan decorations known during the Aghlabid period. The use of soft, carved stone gave the landmark’s appearance in general an aura of splendor. As for the façade, it has a symmetrical axial formation, consisting of three border arches whose stones are reeded, resting on old capitals and columns that were reused. The middle arch is larger than the two surrounding arches, and the corners of the arches are richly decorated, consisting of twigs from which simplified vine leaves emerge, reminiscent of the decorations found on the half dome of the mihrab of the Great Mosque, made of dyed wood. This panel is surmounted by four ribbon-shaped cornices composed of rectangular stone cladding. The lower band is decorated with Kufic inscription recording the renewal of the landmark during the Hafsid period. Above it are two other bands decorated with inscriptions, separated by a frieze of floral decoration. These two bands are decorated with a relief inscription in Kufic script, the tails of which are incised. The artist who carried out the decoration took care to fill some of the spaces with simple floral decorative elements that foretell the lush Kufic calligraphy that would appear in the 4th century AH / 10th century AD. The inscription includes Qur’anic verses, and mentions the name of the founder as well as the date of construction. The middle strip is decorated with paneling pieces bearing various decorations, in which the influence of the majority artistic credit is clearly evident. Among them we distinguish stars with eight branches consisting of palmettes consisting of five lobes or semi-florets, in addition to florets with eight petals taking the shape of a star, as well as rows of simplified florets that are folded or unfolded. The upper part of this symmetrical facade is decorated with an upper frieze made of stone columns similar to those found in the Great Mosque. At the corner stands a minaret that was added during the Hafsid era. Its base is rectangular, similar to the minarets of Kairouan. It is decorated with twin windows framed by tiles, indicating a definite Andalusian influence. The area of the mosque itself is modest, as it consists of three naves parallel to the qibla wall. Each of the two columns that support the roof is surmounted by a semicircular arch.
Sample Text
Saloua Zangar “Mosque of the Three Doors” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;tn;Mon01;26;ar
