MAURITANIA ~ Chinguetti Mosque - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful view of the historic Mosque in the ancient oasis town of Chinguetti... situated in the Adrar region in northern Mauritania, on the edge of the Sahara... this ancient city is considered as one of Islam's seven holy cities... built in the thirteenth or fourteenth century, the mosque is a dry-stone construction with a distinctive square minaret, typical of the historic ksar (fortified village) capped with five ostrich egg finials... its square minaret is widely claimed to be the second-oldest continuously used minaret in the Muslim world, and the building serves as the cultural heart of an ancient trading hub... unfortunately threatened heavily by encroaching desertification, expanding sand dunes, and severe climate shifts in the Adrar region... Thanks a lot Amelia! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

© Vincent Bisson
Founded in the 8th Century as a caravan stop for pilgrims en route to Mecca, this red-stone desert oasis eventually blossomed into one of the biggest centres of science, religion and mathematics in West Africa. As pilgrims and scholars came and went, many left religious texts, scientific studies and historical manuscripts. In fact, so many of these historical documents accumulated over the years that during Chinguetti’s peak between the 13th and 17th Centuries, this thriving city boasted 30 libraries.

The mosque is located within the Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata, a 54.7 ha UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1996.

 

Stamp:

Nouakchott, Capital of Islamic Culture

(Issued 28-11-2024)