Medina of Sousse

Abstract

In the Medina of Sousse.

Description

"Located in the Tunisian Sahel, the Medina of Sousse constitutes a harmonious archaeological complex that reflects Arabo-Muslim urbanism applied to a coastal town exposed through its history to piracy and dangers from the sea. With the Medina of Monastir, it constitutes the unique prototype of military coastal architecture of the first centuries of Islam that has been passed down to us. Several monuments of the medina bear witness to this robust, ascetic and imposing architecture, notably the Ribat, the Great Mosque, the Bou Ftata Mosque, the Kasbah and the ramparts. The Ribat, both a fort and a religious building, is an eminent example of this type of construction. The Medina also comprises juxtaposed dwellings divided into quarters that separate the winding alleys and narrow paths, a fast disappearing type of layout threatened by modern life and the evolution of architectural techniques. It also contains an ensemble of unique monuments dating from Aghlabid and Fatimid times, enabling study of the evolution of Islamic art in its first period."

References

"Medina of Sousse." UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Accessed January 23, 2018. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/498 .

Image Notes

Photograph created 1963. Photograph processed September 1963. Formerly cataloged as B.04.029. Notes written on the slide or index: Sousse, Mosque.

Curator Notes

Legacy Subcollection: "D: Sousse"

Identifier D.029
Collection D: North Africa
Location Sousse, Tunisia
Year 1963
Batch Stamp SEP 63
Written Date 1963
Printed Date September, 1963
Slide Notes Sousse, Mosque
Index Notes Sousse