Image source the great mosque of djenne is the largest mud brick building in the world and is considered by many architects to be the greatest achievement of the sudano sahelian architectural style, albeit with definite islamic influences. Describe at least two materials or techniques used in the construction of the great mosque of djenne. The mosque stands on the site of a 1stcentury hellenic temple to jupiter and of a later church of st. Apr 19, 2012 the great mosque in djenne, mali, a revered religious monument constructed almost entirely from sundried mud bricks coated with clay, is undergoing a restoration that has created local conflicts. The mosque of djenne, mali djenne, the oldest known city in subsaharan africa is situated on the floodlands of the niger and bani rivers, 354 kilometers 220 miles southwest of timbuktu. The most notable days at the great mosque of djenne are market days, when the square in front of the mosque fills with vendors and shoppers. The adaptable landscape architecture of africas historical. The mosque has been completely rebuilt three times over the years. The walls of the mosque have been made from sunbaked bricks.
Jan 09, 2011 the great mosque of djenne, mali, is a magnet for tourists, but it is increasingly difficult for locals to live a normal life around it. Founded by merchants around 800 ad near the site of an older city dating from 250 bc, djenne flourished as a meeting place for traders from the deserts. Great mud mosque of djenne djenne, mali atlas obscura. Great mosque of djenne djenne peoples smarthistory. The mosque was built in 1907, but looks ancient because it followed the design of the original great mosque, erected during the th century. They have brought to light an archaeological ensemble which bears witness to a preislamic urban structure with a wealth of circular or rectangular constructions in djenne ferey and numerous archaeological. Great mosque of djenne djenne worlds largest adobe. If youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. It is kilometres 80 miles southwest of the modern city of mopti in mali and 3 kilometres 1. The mosque is built in a sahelian architectural style and it is the worlds largest building to be constructed with mud brick. Apr 12, 2019 djenne djenno or old djenne to distinguish it from the later medieval town of that name is located on the floodplain of the inland niger delta.
Aug 01, 2017 buildings made of mud are common throughout asia, africa, america, and eastern europe. The djenne mosque of africa is the largest mud brick mosque of the world. This book introduces students to the mosques fascinating history, and to the history of islam in the region. Islamic architecture in mali, west africa djenne, timbuktu. Students read about the history of this amazing structure. I went to jumuah prayer in the great mosque of djenne. Awardwinning reading solution with thousands of leveled readers, lesson plans, worksheets and assessments to teach guided reading, reading proficiency and comprehension to k5 students. Rising up at the center of djenne, mali, is the great mosque. In djenne, home of the worlds largest mud building, built by a prominent icon of religious and spiritual leader, shk omar futy. Great mosque of djenne, djenne ticket price timings. Oct 07, 2016 the walls of the great mosque are made of sunbaked mud bricks called ferey, and are coated with a mud plaster which gives the building its smooth, sculpted look. But, djenne traces its history centuries before, back to 250 bc. Or the response correctly identifies features of the great mosque of djenne that are distinctive to mosque.
Apr 15, 2010 the great mosque of djenne is found in the djenne, mali. Some of the famous mud buildings in the world include taos pueblo, khiva wall, chan chan, siwa oasis, shibam, and the great mosque of djenne. The great mosque of djenne is a large banco or adobe building that is considered by many. A guided tour of the great mosque of djenne would allow you to know more about the details and the fascinating history. Located in mali in west africa, the history of the mosque dates back centuries, and has been completely rebuilt three times over its lifetime. Great mosque of djenne infopediapk all facts in one site. Worlds largest mud building is mosque in djenne, mali. One of the largest mud buildings in the world is known as the great mosque of djenne. The great mosque once was conquered by the tuklor emperor umar tal in about 1861. When the flood waters go down they deposit dead fish on the plain. The first mosque on this site was built in the th century and the present building was built in the year 1907. Informational nonfiction, 1,269 words, level w grade 4, lexile 990l multilevel book also available in levels n and z1 the great mosque of djenne, in mali, west africa, is the largest mudbrick building in the world.
According to the historians, the ancient city of djenne was a center of islamic learning and it attracted students from different parts of the region. Diennes first great, or friday, mosque was built about the thirteenth. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains. It stood on this site until the early 1800s when djennes warriorking, cheikou amadou, who had no time for houses of worship, let the rains destroy it. Caillie, rene 1830, travels through central africa to timbuctoo.
Students read about the history of this amazing structure and discover its important role in islamic culture in africa. It simultaneously suggests the knotted tension of anxiety and the sublime absorption of deep prayer. It is in mali, in west africa, and its history dates back centuries. The mosque is located in the city of djenne, mali, on the flood plain of the bani river. The great mosque of djenne, the largest mud brick building in the world. The structure demonstrates characteristics of mosque architecture specific to its location. Learn great mosque of djenne with free interactive flashcards. Excavations carried out in 1977, 1981, 1996 and 1997, revealed an extraordinary page of human history dating back to the 3rd century b. Meet the masons of djenne, mali a new exhibition at natural history explores the ancient craft in a modern world masons climb up the sides of the great mosque.
The work shown is the great mosque of djenne, which was founded in mali c. Visiting the great mosque of djenne, mali globalgaz visiting. My visit to the great mosque of djenne was wonderful. The great mosque that we see today is its third reconstruction, completed in 1907. Made entirely of mud brick, the great mosque of djenne is oneofakind. The great mosque of djenne, in mali, west africa, is the largest mudbrick building in the world. Great mosque of djenne if youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. The mosque is the tallest adobe structure in the world, because of the special chemical makeup of the mud. Constructed by the community in 1906 on the remains of a preexisting mosque, the great mosque of djenne is the largest historical mud mosque in the subsaharan region and is considered by many to be the greatest achievement of the sudanosahelian architectural style. Actually even in mali best known architecturally in black africa there remains nothing from ancient architecture before the 18th century.
Built in the early 20th century ce on the site of an older mosque, the building uses the materials banco and design used for a millennium going back at least to the mali empire 12401645 ce. This is build as a most even though the it environment host a great wekly market and. The largest mosque in mali is the great mosque of djenne. Natural history in washington dc, and features my documentary film. Its imposing facade symbolizes the sahel, west africas dry savanna just south of the sahara. Not only is it unique, but it is also the largest mudbuilt structure in the world. Great mosque of damascus, the earliest surviving stone mosque, built between ad 705 and 715 by the umayyad caliph alwalid i. The great mosque was an epicenter of the cultural life, religion and the community of djenne. Great mosque of djenne djenne, mali check out tripadvisor members 142 candid photos and videos of great mosque of djenne. Around and in the mosque are animals like donkeys, and goats wandering in and around the mosque. Books on architectural history are composed about stone architecture and wooden architecture, so it is rare to take up earthen architecture. Choose from 73 different sets of great mosque of djenne flashcards on quizlet.
His book written based on his experience in new gourna architecture for the poor 1973 was a. Built in 1907, everything from its minarets to its spired walls is constructed from mud. The great mosque in djenne, mali the new york times. For example, the discussion of the great mosque of djenne may be mostly accurate, whereas the discussion of how mosque architecture relates to the practices of islam includes errors that affect the response.
Jan 11, 2011 the great mosque of djenne, mali, is a magnet for tourists, but it is increasingly difficult for locals to live a normal life around it. The town is the administrative centre of the djenne cercle, one of the eight subdivisions of the mopti region. The translations from books, texts and interviews are my own, unless stated. Great mosque of djenne great mosque of djenne great mosque of djenne. According to legend, the original great mosque was probably erected in the th century, when king koi konborodjennes twentysixth ruler and its first muslim sultan kingdecided to use local materials and traditional design techniques to build a place of muslim worship in town. Some consider that it is even possible that distorted name of djenne guinauha served as a root of european term for western africa south of. Please see the links under article milestones below for its original nomination page for older articles, check the nomination archive and why it was removed this article appeared on wikipedias main page as todays featured article on august 9, 2004.
People of the various ethnic groups of mali come together at this weekly market to purchase everything from cattle, meat, fish, vegetables, rice, and all sorts of household goods. The mosque is located in the city of djenne, mali on the flood plain of the bani river. Bourgeois, jeanlouis 1987, the history of the great mosques of djenne, african arts ucla james s. This haunting figure huddles with its leg hugged to its chest and its head dropped on its knee. Great mosque of djenne djenne, mali picture of great mosque. Read and learn for free about the following article. The history of landscape architecture as told by american and european authors too. Mud construction is a friendly environment material.
In order to know more about the various influences that finally led to this magnificent style, we will have to know more about the city. Bourgeois, jeanlouis 1987, the history of the great mosques of djenne, african arts. On the other hand, djenne city significantly influenced the culture of the region. The history of the great mosques of djenne jeanlouis bourgeois m ud at its most majestic, the great mosque of djenne1 in mali fig. Subscribe to the times video newsletter for free and get a. The great mosque at djenn the great mosque at djenn its impact today as a model the great mosque at djenne is without a doubt the model that inspired the architecture of the awardwinning mosque of niono, mali. Great mosque, djenne, mali ancient history encyclopedia. The walls also insulate the building from heat during the day, and by nightfall have absorbed enough heat to keep the mosque warm through the night. Great mosque of djenne flashcards and study sets quizlet. The great mosque of djenne is the largest mud brick or adobe building in the world and is considered by many architects to be the greatest achievement of the sudanosahelian architectural style, with definite islamic influences.
Met curator yaelle biro on humanity in seated figure by the djenne peoples of mali and the inland niger delta region. Location of crepissage, a festival dedicated to the replastering of the mosque. The characteristics of the strcuture inside as well as outside, made of sun dried mud brick, is amazing. Mali caravans approaching the malian city of timbuktu tags 2nd edition 50 greatest africans 100 lttle known african facts about when we ruled african kings and african queens african rulers ancient africa ancient egypt author black history black history man books and media historian reklaw education. One of the highlights of north africa is the djenne great mosque, the worlds. This is the famous mosque of africa and boasts of impressive mud structures. The fish carcasses plus manure from grazing cattle gave make the mud stronger, in order to make the bricks. Djenne great mosque restoration collapse of one of the.
591 1137 497 281 452 1519 6 352 1041 779 94 1457 977 193 427 877 498 1448 739 1103 654 108 1439 1352 1154 868 1121 1303