The Mosque of Cristo de la Luz is a Catholic chapel and former mosque located in Toledo, Spain. It is one of the ten mosques that existed in the city during the Moorish period. Originally known as the Mezquita Bab al-Mardum, its name was derived from the nearby city gate, Bab al-Mardum. The building is situated near the Puerta del Sol, in a district historically known as the Medina, where affluent Muslims once resided.
| Mosque of Cristo de la Luz | |
|---|---|
Spanish: Mezquita Cristo de la Luz | |
 The north side of the chapel in [YYYY] | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Status | Active (as a chapel) |
| Location | |
| Location | Puerta del Sol, Toledo |
| Country | Spain |
  Location of the chapel in Spain | |
| Geographic coordinates | 39°51′38″N 4°1′27.3″W / 39.86056°N 4.024250°W |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | |
| Funded by | Ahmad Ibn Hadidi |
| General contractor | Musa Ibn Ali |
| Completed | 999 (as a mosque) |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Width | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Dome(s) | One |
| Inscriptions | One |
| Materials | Brick; stone |
History
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Built in 999 in Toledo, the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz is notable for remaining largely unchanged since its original construction.[1] The mosque was commissioned by Ahmad Ibn Hadidi, while an inscription in Kufic script on the southwest façade attributes its construction to Musa Ibn Ali.[2] This inscription, created using brick, provides key details about the mosque’s foundation.
Bismila (in the name of Allah). Ahmad ibn Hadidi had this mosque erected using his own money requesting a reward in paradise for it from Allah. It was completed with the aid of Allah under the direction of Musa ibn Alí, architect and Sa'ada, and concluded in Muharram in 390 (Islamic calendar).[3]
According to legend, a shaft of light guided King Alfonso VI to a hidden figurine of the crucified Christ, which had remained concealed for centuries. In commemoration, the king left his shield in the chapel with an inscription that read: "This is the shield which the King Alfonso VI left in this chapel when he conquered Toledo, and the first Mass was held here".[1]
The legend further recounts that upon capturing Toledo in 1085, King Alfonso VI arrived at the site, where his horse stumbled in front of the chapel. It is said that a candle had been burning continuously within the cracks of the stone wall throughout the entire period of Muslim rule. Upon further exploration, the king discovered a crucifix, which was later relocated to the Santa Cruz Museum in Toledo. The chapel is traditionally believed to be the site of the first Mass celebrated after the Christian reconquest of the city.[2]
In 1186, King Alfonso VIII granted the building to the Knights of the Order of St John, who repurposed it as the Chapel of the Holy Cross (Ermita de la Santa Cruz). During this period, the mosque was renamed, and an apse was added to the structure.[4]
Architecture
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The building is a small, square structure measuring approximately 8 m × 8 m (26 ft × 26 ft), with a later semi-circular apse added to the east side. Constructed primarily of brick and stone, the mosque features a distinctive interior layout.[5]
At the center, four columns with carved capitals support horseshoe arches, which divide the interior into nine bays. Each bay is covered by a uniquely designed vault, characterized by the use of ribbed patterns—a hallmark of Islamic architectural tradition. The ribs, following the principles of Islamic design, typically do not intersect at the center, a feature commonly found in Islamic architecture. Some vaults incorporate rectilinear patterns, while others emphasize curvilinear forms, reflecting the artistic and structural heritage of the period.[1]
The central vault is distinguished by its higher cupola, with ribs forming a star-shaped pattern. The columns and capitals are spolia, repurposed from earlier structures, with three capitals of Visigothic origin.[6]
The construction techniques of the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz reflect both local building traditions and the architectural influence of the Caliphate of Córdoba. This influence is particularly evident in the brickwork on the façade, which closely resembles that of the Cathedral–Mosque of Córdoba.
Originally, the eastern wall was a continuous expanse of brick, serving as the qibla wall of the mosque. Along this wall, a mihrab would have been present for worship. The former mihrab consisted of a niche set within a square section, slightly larger than the other nine bays of the mosque.[6]
The three remaining façades of the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz feature three-bay arcades, each displaying a similar yet distinct decorative style.[7] The western façade, which originally served as the main entrance, is particularly notable for its unique arrangement of arches. This façade includes a lobed arch, a horseshoe arch, and a wider variation of the horseshoe arch. The decoration consists of brickwork arches, reflecting the architectural influence of the Caliphate of Córdoba.[8]
In later years, a Mudéjar-style semi-circular apse was added to the structure. During this modification, the original qibla wall and mihrab were lost. The incorporation of the Mudéjar style facilitated a seamless transition between the original mosque and the apse, as the addition utilized the same decorative elements and materials. The continuation of the arch motif serves as a unifying architectural feature, linking the two sections of the building.[9]
Adjacent to the building is a small garden, featuring a central fountain.[2]
Religious history
editThe mosque was originally constructed during the Islamic era on behalf of Aḥmad Ibn Ḥadīd as a place for Muslim worship.[10] During the Reconquista, as Christian forces sought to expel Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula, the mosque was seized and repurposed.[4] This transition led to significant renovations, reflecting the shift in religious practices. As a result, the building exhibits an overlay of both Muslim and Christian architectural and decorative elements. Today,[when?] it remains a Catholic chapel,[clarification needed] while still preserving its historical identity as a former mosque.
See also
editNotes and references
edit- ^ a b c Pareja, Antonio (1999). Mezquita de Bab al Mardum, Cristo de la Luz, Toledo 999-1999 (in European Spanish). Spain: Fundacíon Cultura y Deporte Castilla-La Mancha, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha.
- ^ a b c "Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz - Toledo, Spain". www.sacred-destinations.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ 13 December 999 – 11 January 1000 AD
- ^ a b Harris, Julie. "Mosque To Church Conversions in the Spanish Reconquest". Acadia: 160–165.
- ^ TURESPAÑA (April 23, 2007). "Monuments in Toledo, Spain: Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz. Cultural tourism in Castile la Mancha, Spain". Spain.info. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ a b "Discover Islamic Art - Virtual Museum - monument_ISL_es_Mon01_3_en". islamicart.museumwnf.org. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Lapunzina, Alejandron. Architecture of Spain. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2005.
- ^ "Contesting the Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz". delcat.primo.exlibrisgroup.com. p. 207. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Dodds, Jerrilynn Denise, Maria Rosa Menocal, and Abigail Krasner Balbale. The arts of intimacy: Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the making of Castilian culture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008.
- ^ Raizman, David (1999). "The Church of Santa Cruz and the Beginnings of Mudejar Architecture in Toledo". Gesta. 38 (2): 129. doi:10.2307/767185. ISSN 0016-920X. JSTOR 767185.
External links
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- Description of the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz in toledomonumental.com Archived 2018-11-09 at the Wayback Machine
- Museum With No Frontiers (retrieved on December 4, 2008)
- Page at ArteHistoria (in Spanish) (retrieved December 3, 2008)
- Photos of Bab-Mardun on Oronoz.com (retrieved on December 3, 2008)
- Bab Mardum Mosque - An inspiration for Gothic?