The Visual Culture of al-Andalus in the Christian Kingdoms of Iberia

A comparative and interdisciplinary analysis reveals that the reuse of antique spolia, particularly in Umayyad al-Andalus—evident in landmarks like the Mosque of Córdoba and Madinat al-Zahra—established a distinct visual culture that was later adopted by Christian kingdoms in Iberia. This transfer and adaptation, observed in churches such as Santa Cristina de Lena and San Miguel de Escalada during the 9th–10th centuries, persisted through subsequent Islamic dynasties (Taifa, Almoravid, Almohad) and Christian rulers of León, Castile, and Aragon. The study highlights how these strategies, exemplified by the reuse of Umayyad basins and capitals in sites like San Isidoro de León and the Monastery of Las Huelgas, contributed to a shared visual language, reinforcing legitimacy, memory, and identity across medieval Iberia.

Monteira, I. (2024). The Visual Culture of al-Andalus in the Christian Kingdoms of Iberia (, Ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003489047