Capital - Madinat al-Zahra' - MET

Marble, ca. 960. Spanish, Andalusia. Madinat al-Zahra', near Cordoba. [The Cloisters Collection, 1925 (25.120.308)](shorturl.at/bsFSY), MET New York. 'Abd al-Rahman III, the self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic lands of southern Spain, commissioned a great palace-city in 936 (324 A.H. by the Islamic calendar). Called Madinat al-Zahra' ("shining city" in arabic), UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was located near his capital at Cordoba and included residences, reception halls, mosque, marquets, gardens, etc. The extraordinary carving of this capital has transformed the solid marble surface into something lacy and intricate. Madinat al-Zahra' was destroyed by Berbers from North Africa in 1010. Sculpture from the site was reused in medieval churches and secular buildings in Spain and France. Reception hall of Abd ar-Rahman III at Madinat al-Zahra':  Can't register the back side due to its position near the wall.