Great Mosque of Asmara

Great Mosque in Asmara

The Great Mosque of Asmara (Italian: Grande Moschea di Asmara; alternately known as Al Kulafah Al Rashidan, Al Kulafah Al Rashidin, Al Kuaka Al Rashidin or Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin; Arabic: جامع الخلفاء الراشدين‎, jama al khulafa'a al rashidin, Mosque of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs) is a mosque located on Harnet Avenue (earlier known as Viale Mussolini) in Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea.^[1] The mosque is considered to be one of the three prominent edifices of the city, along with Asmara Catholic Cathedral and Enda Mariam Coptic Cathedral.^[2] Designed by Gudo Ferrazza, it was built in 1938 on the initiative of Benito Mussolini, to impress the Muslim population, who make up about 50% of the locality.^[3][4] The name means "followers of the right path".^[4]

Features

Panoramic view

The mosque was designed by Gudo Ferrazza in a blend of the architectural styles of Rationalist, Classical, and Islamic.^[5][6] The minaret at its end, fluted and of Roman design, is visible from all parts of the city. It has two platforms and two balconies of the Italian rococo or late baroque style. Below the minaret, the mosque's fascia has a neoclassical loggia (exterior galleries), which is split in three parts. The building's double columns are made from Dekemhare travertine and are fitted with capitals made of Carrara marble.^[7] Other features include Islamic domes and arches. The mihrab, which faces west towards the direction of Mecca, is of Carrara marble.^[8] Additional marble from the same quarry is used in other areas of this mosque.^[5] The front open yard of the mosque is covered with black stone slabs set in geometrical design.^[2]

References

1. Fuller 2007, p. 91.
2. "Religious sites of Asmara (1)". asmera.nl. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
3. Griswold 2011, p. 189.
4. Starbird & Bahrenburg 2004, p. 36.
5. House 2004, p. 244.
6. Connell Killion2010, p. 78.
7. Cantalupo 2012, p. 145.
8. Carillet, Butler & Starnes 2009, p. 322.

Coordinates: 15°20′20″N 38°56′30″E / 15.33889°N 38.94167°E

Bibliography

• Cantalupo, Charles (1 January 2012). Joining Africa: From Anthills to Asmara. MSU Press. ISBN 978-1-60917-313-5.
• Carillet, Jean-Bernard; Butler, Stuart; Starnes, Dean (2009). Ethiopia & Eritrea. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1-74104-814-8.
• Connell, Dan; Killion, Tom (14 October 2010). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7505-0.
• Fuller, Mia (24 January 2007). Moderns Abroad: Architecture, Cities and Italian Imperialism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-64830-6.
• Griswold, Eliza (3 February 2011). The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Faultline Between Christianity and Islam. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-1-84614-422-6.
• House, Media (1 December 2004). Columbus World Travel Guide, 2004–2005. Highbury Columbus Travel Pub. ISBN 978-1-902221-84-7.
• Starbird, Caroline; Bahrenburg, Amy (1 January 2004). Step Into Africa. University of Denver, CTIR. ISBN 978-0-943804-87-3.