An ancient prayer hall has been discovered under the famous Al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, forcing UNESCO to review a plan to restore the monument, which was badly damaged by ISIS.
UNESCO is rebuilding the complex in partnership with the UAE government, with the winning design selected from an international design competition.
During the excavations, a team of archaeologists and a local worker found gaps in the mosque’s foundation that led to four rooms believed to have been used for incantation, or ritual washing before prayer. The excavations also revealed many artifacts including jars, pottery fragments, carved stone pieces, and coins.
“These rooms of the 12th century Atabeg were completely buried and were not mentioned in historical sources and books.” Khair El-Din Nasser, DrThe director of the Department of Antiquities and Heritage in Nineveh said in a statement.
The mosque’s restoration is part of UNESCO’s “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative, an attempt to undo the damage done by ISIS extremists during their three-year occupation of the city. Among the religious buildings and cultural monuments looted or destroyed are the Mosul Museum, the city library, and the tomb of the Prophet Yunus, believed to contain the remains of the Prophet Yunus.
Last April, an international jury selected a A team of Egyptian architects “With a proven track record of heritage rehabilitation” to lead the design of the historic Al-Nouri Mosque complex. The winning project, titled “Courtyards Dialogue,” included a series of open public spaces integrated into the contemporary structure, which was built in the 1940s. It also features climate-conscious architecture such as new shading to reduce sun glare.
The architecture of the new mosque complex, which includes an educational facility, art museum, and community center, drew inspiration from local Ottoman-style homes, which use alabaster, glass, and perforated bricks for a clean design. The main square outside the prayer hall, the largest public space in the city, is set to contain foldable white canvas tents, fountains, and local greenery.
However, the team returned to the drawing table to accommodate the discovery of prayer halls and pansies dating back to the 12th century, which “increases the importance of this historical and archaeological site,” according to Nasser. After lengthy discussions with the Mosul community and the Restoration Coalition, the architects abandoned many elements considered ultra-modern, such as the wide sun shades near the semi-hidden corridors.
According to tradition, the new entrance to the mosque will be located towards the south. Instead, the former car park will become the site of a new gender-segregated school and a revamped Institute of Islamic Art and Architecture. The mosque’s destroyed minaret will be reconstructed with salvaged stones in the original 12th-century style.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, said in a statement that the reconstruction of the Al-Nuri Mosque complex, a historic site that forms part of the fabric of Mosul and its history, will be a milestone in the path of reconciliation and reconciliation in the war-torn city. Social cohesion. Heritage sites and historical monuments are powerful catalysts for people’s sense of belonging, community and identity.”
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