Wonderfully captured photograph of the great Mezquita/Mosque of Cordoba in al-Andalus, the last stronghold of the Umayyad dynasty! The elegant double-arches on top of them pillars have different interpretations, both functional and symbolic....when it comes to the symbolic variety, one could say that the whole contraption of double-arched pillars are symbolic palm-trees, shading the faithful believers in those times! If I may digress further, I may add that the palm-tree in ancient, pre-Islamic Semitic culture(s) was imagined as a goddess called "Ashirah" (pronounced A-shee-rah). This goddess was worshipped by (among others) Phoenicians, who used to trade with Iberia/Spain in the late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age...Why bring up the Phoenicians into this context? Well, it may seem far-fetched, but the Umayyad dynasty who built the Mosque of Cordoba originated from what is nowadays Syria and Lebanon...exactly the homestead of the ancient Phoenicians/Canaanites! What´s my point? Nothing other than that, this beautiful image gets me started on nerdy, historical stuffs! Once again; great and interesting image/photo!
Artist Reply: Thank You Dear X-Chel for appreciating this. Sincerely I'm pleased You liked my works, I'm looking forward to viewing some more of Yours too!
18 Comments
Aqua1955 14 May 2015
Indeed Spain has everything under the sun. It is almost not realistic that we find such beauty in a touristic area.X-Chel 28 Aug 2014
Wonderfully captured photograph of the great Mezquita/Mosque of Cordoba in al-Andalus, the last stronghold of the Umayyad dynasty! The elegant double-arches on top of them pillars have different interpretations, both functional and symbolic....when it comes to the symbolic variety, one could say that the whole contraption of double-arched pillars are symbolic palm-trees, shading the faithful believers in those times! If I may digress further, I may add that the palm-tree in ancient, pre-Islamic Semitic culture(s) was imagined as a goddess called "Ashirah" (pronounced A-shee-rah). This goddess was worshipped by (among others) Phoenicians, who used to trade with Iberia/Spain in the late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age...Why bring up the Phoenicians into this context? Well, it may seem far-fetched, but the Umayyad dynasty who built the Mosque of Cordoba originated from what is nowadays Syria and Lebanon...exactly the homestead of the ancient Phoenicians/Canaanites! What´s my point? Nothing other than that, this beautiful image gets me started on nerdy, historical stuffs! Once again; great and interesting image/photo!Michael Loveless 10 Aug 2014
I took the opportunity to browse yoir portfolio now that I can get back in the site, and your work is really great, very expressive and emotional.Marika Rozalia Seprenyi 27 Jun 2014
what a fabulous shot John...wow!Heloisa Castro 26 Jun 2014
Great photos!Anonymous Guest 24 Jun 2014
Awe inspiring! Gorgeous design!! Hedy!Elizabeth Lindberg 23 Jun 2014
Wowwwwwwwww!! How incredibly beautiful John!!!Sno* Smith 23 Jun 2014
Gorgeous!Brenda Loveless 23 Jun 2014
very beautiful carving and colors...wow!Cathy Holford 23 Jun 2014
So lovely!Jim & Darlene Stewart 23 Jun 2014
beautiful place , well done , thanks for sharingSharon De Vore 23 Jun 2014
ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT PLACE AND PHOTOS, JOHN.Kate Gallagher 23 Jun 2014
So beautiful, very impressive structure!Donald Schrier 23 Jun 2014
These are really beautiful captures, I love the colors, shapes, and the magnificent Architecture of these shots.Anneke Hut 23 Jun 2014
Wonderful ornaments and colours!John Swift 23 Jun 2014
Great shots!yves colas 23 Jun 2014
magnificient architecture,superb lighting,photo,a pleasur to see..marie-claire gallet 23 Jun 2014
Magnificent arches!!!! Love the perspective in the picture below!!!