Madinat al-Zahra
Medina Azahara; Madīnat al-Zahrāʾ
Spain · Andalucía, Córdoba
In brief
The palace city, commissioned by Abd al-Rahman III in 936, was the administrative center of the caliphate. The settlement was destroyed during the civil war of 1009–1010 and has been excavated intermittently since 1911.
What was found?
- 1Salón Rico
The hall associated with the name of III. Abdurrahman is part of a group of buildings arranged for political representation and ceremonies. It is important for understanding how the caliphal administration was made visible through architecture.
- 2Central Pavilion
It is the building in the High Garden that forms part of the same arrangement for representation and ceremonies as Salón Rico. It shows that the open spaces around the palace and the buildings were designed together.
- 3Remains of water systems
Water systems are also among the city's preserved infrastructure. They allow the functioning of the caliphal center to be examined beyond the palace facades.
- 4Roads and bridges
These are the remains of the transport infrastructure at the excavation site. They reveal that Medinetü'z-Zehra consisted of a city established together with its connections, rather than a single palace.
- 5Architectural decoration fragments
Decorative elements belonging to the buildings form an important part of the city's archaeological ensemble. They document the approach to architectural decoration during the caliphal period in Al-Andalus.
What does it point to?
Medinetü'z-Zehra shows that the caliphate's administrative and representational needs were reflected in the organization of an entire city. The preservation of ceremonial buildings together with transport and water infrastructure allows palace life to be understood alongside the functioning of the city.
What did it teach us?
- It showed that the caliphal center consisted of roads, bridges, and water systems as well as palace buildings.
- It documented the arrangement of dedicated architectural spaces for political representation and ceremonies.
- It provided an opportunity to understand the civilization of Al-Andalus by examining the remains of buildings, decoration, and everyday objects together.
Images
Record
- Culture
- Umayyads of al-Andalus
- First modern dig
- 1911
- Team / historical
- Madinat al-Zahra Archaeological Complex
- Coordinates
- 37.8880°, -4.8670°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Italica 115 km
- Casas del Turuñuelo 158 km
- Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida 172 km
- Baelo Claudia 216 km
- Los Millares 231 km
- Perdigões Archaeological Complex 242 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
All excavation sites (395)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
- Olympus in Lycia
- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Priene
- Sagalassos
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma
- Sanctuary of Labraunda
- Sapinuwa
- Sardis
- Sayburç
- Side
- Stratonikeia
- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
- Tripolis on the Meander
- Troy
- Uluburun Shipwreck
- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
- Çukuriçi Höyük

