where the Moslem schoolman prepared his theology and the other branches
of strange learning which, to the present day, make up the curriculum of
the Mahometan university. The medersa is an adaptation of the private
house to religious and educational ends; or, if one prefers another
analogy, it is a _fondak_ built above a miniature mosque. The
ground-plan is always the same: in the centre an arcaded court with a
fountain, on one side the long narrow praying-chapel with the _mihrab_,
on the other a classroom with the same ground-plan, and on the next
story a series of cell-like rooms for the students, opening on carved
cedar-wood balconies. This cloistered plan, where all the effect is
reserved for the interior façades about the court, lends itself to a
delicacy of detail that would be inappropriate on a street-front; and
the medersas of Fez are endlessly varied in their fanciful but never
exuberant decoration.
M. Tranchant de Lunel has pointed out (in "France-Maroc") with what a
sure sense of suitability the Merinid architects adapted this decoration
to the uses of the buildings. On the lower floor, under the cloister, is
a revêtement of marble (often alabaster) or of the almost indestructible
ceramic mosaic.[A] On the floor above, massive cedar-wood corbels ending
in monsters of almost Gothic inspiration support the fretted balconies;
and above rise stucco interfacings, placed too high up to be injured
by man, and guarded from the weather by projecting eaves.
[Footnote A: These Moroccan mosaics are called _zellijes_.]
[Illustration: _From a photograph from the Service des Beaux-Arts au
Maroc_
Salé--interior court of the Medersa]
The private house, whether merchant's dwelling or chieftain's palace, is
laid out on the same lines, with the addition of the reserved quarters
for women; and what remains in Spain and Sicily of Moorish secular
architecture shows that, in the Merinid period, the play of ornament
must have been--as was natural--even greater than in the medersas.
The Arab chroniclers paint pictures of Merinid palaces, such as the
House of the Favourite at Cordova, which the soberer modern imagination
refused to accept until the medersas of Fez were revealed, and the old
decorative tradition was shown in the eighteenth century Moroccan
palaces. The descriptions given of the palaces of Fez and of Marrakech
in the preceding articles, which make it unnecessary, in so slight a
note as this, to go again into the detail of their planning and
decoration, will serve to show how gracefully the art of the mosque and
the medersa was lightened and domesticated to suit these cool chambers
and flower-filled courts.
With regard to the immense fortifications that are the most picturesque
and noticeable architectural features of Morocco, the first thing to
strike the traveller is the difficulty of discerning any difference in
the probable date of their construction until certain structural
peculiarities are examined, or the ornamental details of the great
gateways are noted. Thus the Almohad portions of the walls of Fez and
Rabat are built of stone, while later parts are of rubble; and the touch
of European influence in certain gateways of Meknez and Fez at once
situate them in the seventeenth century. But the mediaeval outline of
these great piles of masonry, and certain technicalities in their plan,
such as the disposition of the towers, alternating in the inner and
outer walls, continued unchanged throughout the different dynasties,
and this immutability of the Moroccan military architecture enables the
imagination to picture, not only what was the aspect of the fortified
cities which the Greeks built in Palestine and Syria, and the
Crusaders brought back to Europe, but even that of the far-off
Assyrio-Chaldaean strongholds to which the whole fortified architecture
of the Middle Ages in Europe seems to lead back.
[Illustration: _From a photograph from the Service des Beaux-Arts au
Maroc_
Marrakech--the gate of the Portuguese]
IX
BOOKS CONSULTED
Afrique Française (L'). Bulletin Mensuel du Comité de
l'Afrique Française. Paris, 21, rue Cassette.
Bernard, Augustin. Le Maroc. Paris, F. Alcan, 1916.
Budgett-Meakin. The Land of the Moors. London, 1902.
Châtelain, L. Recherches archéologiques au Maroc: Volubilis.
(Published by the Military Command in Morocco).
Les Fouilles de Volubilis (Extrait du Bulletin Archéologique,
1916)
Chevrillon, A. Crépuscule d'Islam.
Cochelet, Charles. Le Naufrage du Brick Sophie.
Conférences Marocaines. Paris, Plon-Nourrit.
Doutté, E. En Tribu. Paris, 1914.
Foucauld, Vicomte de. La Reconnaissance au Maroc. Paris, 1888.
France-Maroc. Revue Mensuelle, Paris, 4, rue Chauveau-Lagarde.
Gaillard. Une Ville d'Islam, Fez. Paris, 1909.
Gayet, Al. L'Art Arabe. Paris, 1906.
Houdas, O. Le Maroc de 1631 à 1812. Extrait d'une histoire du Maroc
intitulée "L'Interprète qui s'exprime clairement sur les dynasties de
l'Orient et de l'Occident," par Ezziani. Paris, E. Leroux, 1886.
Koechlin, Raymond. Une Exposition d'Art Marocain. (Gazette
des Beaux-Arts, Juillet-Septembre, 1917).
Leo Africanus, Description of Africa.
Loti, Pierre. Au Maroc.
Migeon, Gaston. Manuel d'Art Musulman, II, Les Arts
Plastiques et Industriels. Paris, A. Picard et Fils, 1907.
Saladin, H. Manuel d'Art Musulman, I, L'Architecture.
Paris, A. Picard et Fils, 1907.
Segonzac, Marquis de. Voyages au Maroc. Paris, 1903.
Au Coeur de l'Atlas. Paris, 1910.
Tarde, A. de. Les Villes du Maroc: Fez, Marrakech, Rabat. (Journal de
l'Université des Annales, 15 Oct., 1 Nov., 1918).
Windus. A Journey to Mequinez. London, 1721.
INDEX
Abdallah-ben-Aïssa
Abd-el-Aziz
Abd-el-Hafid
Abd-el-Kader
Abd-el-Moumen
Abou-el Abbas ("The Golden")
Abou Hassan
Abou-Youssef
Agdal, olive-yards of the
Ahmed-Baba
Ahmed-el-Hiba
Aïd-el-Kebir, the
Aïssaouas, the, of Kairouan
dance of
Algeria, French conquest of
Almohads, the, invasion of Morocco by
architecture of
Almoravids, the, invasion of Morocco by
destruction of architecture of
Andalusian Moors, the, mosque of
Arabs, conquest of Morocco by
Architecture, Moroccan, four basic conditions of
four groups of
of the Almohad dynasty
of the Cherifian dynasties
of the Merinid dynasty
the Saadian mausoleum
the collegiate building
the fortress
the mosque
the private house
Art, Moroccan, sources of influence on
disappearance of treasures of
and Moorish art
Ba-Ahmed, builder of the Bahia
Bab F'touh cemetery, at Fez
Bahia, the, palace of, at Marrakech
apartment of Grand Vizier's Favourite in
Bazaars, of Fez
of Marrakech
of Salé
Beni-Merins _See_ Merinids
Berbers, the attack of, on Fez
origins of
dialects of
nomadic character of
heresy and schisms of
Bernard, M. Augustin
Black Guard, the Sultan's
uniform of
Moulay-Ismaël's method of raising
Blue Men of the Sahara, the
Bou-Jeloud, palace of
Bugeaud, Marshal
Carthage, African colonies of
Casablanca, exhibitions at
port of
Catholics, in Morocco
Cemetery, El Alou
Bab F'touh
Châtelain, M. Louis
Chella, ruins of
Cherifian dynasties, the
architecture of
Children, Moroccan,
in the harem
negro
training of, for Black Guard
Chleuh boys, dance of
Christians, captive, and the building of Meknez
religious liberty to, in Africa
Clocks, in Sultan's harem at Rabat
Cochelet, Charles, his "Naufrage du Brick Sophie"
Colleges, at Fez
at Salé
Moslem
architecture of Moroccan
Colors, of North African towns
Commerce, Moroccan
Conti, Princesse de
Convention of Fez, the
Courts of Justice, Moroccan
Crowds, Moroccan street
Culture, in North Africa
Dance, of Chleuh boys
of the Hamadchas
Dawn, in Africa
Djebilets, the
Doutté, M.
Dust-storm, at Marrakech
Education, in Morocco
Elakhdar, mosque of
El Alou, cemetery of
El Andalous, mosque of
Elbah (Old Fez)
harems of
Eldjid (New Fez)
palaces of
founding of
El Kairouiyin, mosque of
the praying-hall of
the court of ablutions of
legend of the tortoise of
El-Ksar
El-Mansour, Yacoub
Elmansour, palace of
Empress Mother, the
English emissaries,
visit of, to Meknez
Exhibitions, planned by General Lyautey
Ezziani, chronicler of Moulay-Ismaël
Fatimites, the
Fez, the approach to
unchanged character of
ruins of Merinid tombs of
the upper or new
old summer-palace at
night in
antiquity of
palaces of
the inns at
streets of
a city of wealth
the merchant of
bazaars of
a melancholy city
twilight in
the shrines of
mosque of Moulay Idriss at
mosque of El Kairouiyinat
the University of
Medersas of
mosque of El Andalous at
Bab F'touh cemetery of
the potters of
art and culture of
the Mellah of
harems of Old
the Convention of
uprising in
attack of Berbers on
exhibitions at
Moslem college at
founding of
Almoravid conquest of
centre of Moroccan learning
Catholic diocese at
massacres at
Fez Elbali
Fez Eldjid
Fondak Nedjanne, the
Fortifications, Moroccan, architecture of
Foucauld, Vicomte de
Franco-German treaty of 1911
French Protectorate in Morocco, work of
French, conquests in Morocco
at Fez
Furniture, disappearance of Merinid
Ghilis, the
Gouraud, General
Hamadch, tomb of
Hamadchas, the, ritual dance of
Harem
in old Fez
an Imperial
in Marrakech
in old Rabat
Hassan, Sultan
Hassan, tower of, at Rabat
Hassanians, the, rule of
Holy War, the, against France
against Spain and Portugal
Hospitals, in Morocco
Houses, Moroccan,
architecture of
color of
plan of
rich private
Ibn-Toumert
Idriss I
Idriss II
Idrissite empire, the
Inns, Moroccan
Jews, of Sefrou
treatment of North African
Kairouan, the Aïssaouas of
Great Mosque of
Kairouiyin, mosque of _See_ El
Kairouiyin
Kalaa, ruins of
Kenitra, port of
Koechlin, M. Raymond
Koutoubya, tower of the
Lamothe, General
Land, area of cultivated, in Morocco
Louis XIV, and Moulay-Ismaël
Lunel, M. Tranchant de
Lyautey, General
at Sultan's court
appointed Resident-General in Morocco
military occupation of Morocco by
policy of
economic development of Morocco achieved by
summary of work of
Maclean, Sir Harry
Mamora, forest of
Mangin, General
Mansourah, mosque of
Market, of Marrakech
in Moulay Idriss
of Salé
of Sefrou
Marrakech, the road to
founders of
tower of the Koutoubya at
palace of the Bahia at
the lamp-lighters of
mixed population of
bazaars of
the "morocco" workers of
olive-yards of
the Menara of
a holiday of merchants of
the Square of the Dead in
French administration office at
fruit-market of
dance of Chleuh boys in
Saadian tombs of
a harem in
taken by the French
Catholic diocese at
Chapel of the Tombs at
Medersa, the, of the Oudayas
Attarine
at Fez
at Salé
architecture of
Mehedyia, Phenician colony of
Meknez, building of
the Kasbah of
palaces of
stables of
entrance into
ruins of
sunken gardens of
visit of English emissaries to
Mellah, of Fez
of Sefrou
Menara, the, in the Agdal
Mequinez _See_ Meknez
Merinids, the, tombs of, at Fez
conquest of Morocco by
architecture of
Mirador, the Imperial
Moorish art
Mosque, of Elakhador
of El Andalous
of El Kairouiyin
of Kairouan
of Mansourah
of Rabat
of Tinmel
of Tunisia
architecture of Moroccan
Moulay Hafid
Moulay-el-Hassan
Moulay Idriss I, rule of
tomb of
Moulay Idriss II, tomb of
rule of
Moulay Idriss, Sacred City of
Street of the Weavers in
feast of the Hamadchas in
market-place of
whiteness of
founding of
Moulay-Ismaël, and Louis XIV
exploits of
mausoleum of Moulay Idriss enlarged by
Meknez built by
the Black Guard of
description of
palaces of
and English emissaries
death of
rule of
successors of
Moulay Youssef
Nedjarine, fountain and inn of
Night, in Fez
Oases, Moroccan
Marrakech
Sefrou
Settat
Oudayas, the, Kasbah of
Medersa of
Palaces, Moroccan, the Bahia
Bou-Jeloud
at Fez
at Meknez
of Moulay-Ismaël
Phenicians, the, African explorations of
Pilgrimage to Salé, a
Population, Moroccan, varied elements of
Ports, Moroccan
Portugal, the Holy War against
Pottery, Berber
Potters' Field, the
Rabat
Tower of Hassan at
ruins of mosque at
called "Camp of Victory"
Sacrifice of the Sheep at
Sultan's harem of
visit to a harem in old
exhibitions at
port of
Moslem college at
Central Laboratory at
Railways, Moroccan, built by French Protectorate
Rarb, the
Roads, Moroccan, built by French Protectorate
Romans, the, African explorations of
Saadian Sultans, the, history of
tombs of
rule of
Sacrifice of the Sheep, the
Saint-Amand, M. de
Saladin, M. H., his "Manual of Moslem Architecture"
Salé, first view of
type of untouched Moroccan city
bazaar of
Medersas of
market of
colors of
Schools, in Morocco
Sedrata, ruins of
Sefrou
market-place of
men and women of
Jewish colony of
Senegal
Settat, oasis of
Sheep, sacrifice of the
Sidi-Mohammed
Slaves, Moroccan
trade in white
_Sloughi_, bronze, at Volubilis
Soudan
Spain, the Holy War against
Spanish zone, the, German intrigue in
Stables, of Meknez
Stewart, Commodore
Street of the Weavers (Moulay Idriss)
Streets, Moroccan
Tangier
colors of
taken by the French
Tetuan, bronze chandelier of
Timbuctoo, the Sultanate of
Tingitanian Mauretania
Tinmel, ruins of mosque at
Tlemcen, the conflict for
Touaregs, the
Tower, of Hassan
of the Koutoubya
Tunisia, Almohad sanctuary of
Vandals, the, African invasion by
Veiled Men, the
Versailles and Meknez
Villages, "sedentary"
Volubilis, ruins of
bronze _sloughi_ of
founded by Romans
Wedding, Jewish, procession bringing gifts for
Windus, John
Women, Moroccan,
dress of
of Sefrou
of the harems
in Sultan's harem
in harems of Old Fez
in harem of Marrakech
in harem of Rabat
negro
Yacoub-el-Mansour
Youssef-ben-Tachfin