Ciudad palaciega de Samarra, revestimientos
836 - 892, Abbasid Dynasty
See the detail photo above
The walls of the palaces in Samarra [in today's Iraq], but also those of the private houses were covered with densely patterned stucco panels and stucco friezes. Most of them were vegetal and geometric motifs in the so-called Samarra diagonal cut. Many are reminiscent of carved wood or worked marble panels, as they were also found in Samarra. Since all wood and stone had to be imported, cheaper and faster to produce wall coverings made of plaster stucco were produced. Some color remains have been preserved, which show that the stucco was colored.
(Text: SMB-digital, online collections database. Transl.: UiU)
The Abbasids and their palace-city of Samarra
The Abbasids (749-1258) were the second large dynasty to rule over the Islamic Empire, which stretched from North Africa to western Central Asia on the borders of China. When the capital of Baghdad was created in 762, Iraq became the hub for international trade, with political connections to both the courts of the Chinese and Byzantine emperors, as well as to that of Charlemagne. It was a time when culture and science flourished, with the translation of ancient works and enduring accomplishments made in geography, philosophy, medicine, astronomy and mathematics. The Abbasid Empire ended with the destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258.
In 836, caliph al-Mu'tasim (833-842) founded a new capital 125 km north of Baghdad: Samarra. Samarra developed into one of the largest cities of the Ancient World, stretching 50 km along the Tigris. With its spacious palace complexes and monumental buildings, it remained the political centre of the empire for almost six decades. However, by 892, financial crises forced a return to Baghdad, and Samarra was abandoned by the court.
Friedrich Sarre, the first museum director, and Ernst Herzfeld, an archaeologist, excavated in Samarra from 1911-13. Their campaign was the first archaeological investigation of a city in the Islamic Middle East. Some of the finds were sent to the Museum for Islamic Art in Berlin. They provide evidence of discerning taste and worldwide trade connections in the 9th century.
(Text in the Museum of Islamic Art)
- también interesante en UiU -
Fotos e informaciones de una selección de objetos del Museo de Arte Islámico, situado en el Museo de Pérgamo en la Isla de los Museos de Berlín.
