What do you know about the Great Mosque of Mutawwakil in Samarra?

‘The Great Mosque in Samarra’) is a mosque from the 9th century CE located in Samarra, Iraq. The mosque was commissioned in 848 and completed in 851 by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil who reigned (in Samarra) from 847 until 861.

What was the reason for the height of the Malwiya minaret in Samarra?

The Malwiya, which mean ‘snail shell,’ is 52 meters tall, its height used for 1000 years as a vantage point for the Muslim call to prayer — until 2005, when U.S. troops occupying samarra and combating the local resistance fighters commandeered the sacred site.

What happened to the city of Samarra?

During the long decline of the Abbasid empire, Samarra was largely abandoned starting in AD 940. Its population returned to Baghdad and the city rapidly declined. Its field of ruins is the only world metropolis of late antiquity which is available for serious archaeology.

Why was the city of Baghdad so important in the Middle Ages?

Baghdad, located at the point where the Tigris flows closest to the Euphrates, was ideally placed for global trade. It swiftly became an important centre for the collection and dispersal of knowledge and ideas from around the known world.

Who built the Mosque of Samarra?

Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil
It was built in the 9th century, and commissioned by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil, who moved to Samarra to escape conflict with the local population in Baghdad and remained there for the next 56 years—a period during which he built many palaces including the largest mosque in all of Islam.

When was the Great Mosque in Samarra built?

‘The Great Mosque in Samarra’) is a mosque from the 9th century CE located in Samarra, Iraq. The mosque was commissioned in 848 and completed in 851 by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil who reigned (in Samarra) from 847 until 861.

What is the city of Samarra famous for?

The city of Samarra was once one of the largest cities in ancient times, however it is now full of collapsed rammed-earth and brick walls. The area has become one of the largest archaeological sites in the world. The Great Mosque of Samarra, otherwise known as the Great Mosque of al-Mutawakkil, was once one of the largest mosques in the world.

Why did the Samarra Mosque get bombed?

This bombing raid took place by insurgents at Samarra. There are many stories to why this took place but the truth, for the most part, remains undiscovered. There have been renovations since this bombing as an attempt to return the mosque to its former glory.

How tall is the minaret at Samarra?

It is known for its 52 metres (171 ft) high minaret encircled by a spiral ramp. The mosque is located within the 15,058-hectare (37,210-acre) Samarra Archaeological City UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 2007.