Spolia and Umayyad Mosques

A striking absence of Roman and Late-antique spolia in the construction of the Umayyad mosque at Madinat al-Zahra' contrasts with their widespread use in other Umayyad mosques, such as Córdoba's Friday Mosque. While spolia were typically employed for aesthetic, religious, ideological, or political reasons, the capitals designed for Madinat al-Zahra's prayer room exhibit unique characteristics resembling Visigothic models and suggest a rushed production process. This study synthesizes existing research on Umayyad mosque construction using spolia and proposes new interpretations for these distinctive capitals, offering insights into their cultural and historical significance.

González Gutiérrez, C. (2022). Spolia and Umayyad Mosques. Journal of Islamic Archaeology, 9(1), 83–104. https://doi.org/10.1558/jia.23646