1988/01/01 by Nasser Rabbat · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · #Archaeology and Historical Studies #Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History #Byzantine Studies and History
paper · doi:10.1163/22118993-90000230
openalex publication_date 1988/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/23
archaeological evidence that, during the reigns of the four Orthodox Caliphs and the early Umayyads, a few communal buildings were constructed in the capital Medina and later Damascus, and in the new settlements or garrison towns (amsdr) in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt, but we know very little about their plans, structures, and construction materials. We do know that they were all constructed to fulfill the immediate needs of the Muslim communities or the Islamic governments in these towns, and that meant they invariably belonged to one of two types, either congregational mosques, such as those at Kufa (638-39), Basra (63839), and Fustat (642), or government houses (dur imdra, pl. of dar al-imara), like the ones in Kufa (638-39) and Damascus (after 644).1 These first buildings were all of a straightforward utilitarian character lacking any architectural pretence, but the sources tell us that the second generation of Muslim governors paid more attention to appearance. MuCawiya ordered his dar alimdra in Damascus torn down and rebuilt with more durable materials after he heard the comment of a