Cordoba Mosque and Cathedral

In the 8th century, the Umayyad dynasty was wiped out except for one prince, Abd al-Rahman. He managed to escape to Spain, where the Umayyad caliphate was set up at Cordoba. The Great Mosque at Cordoba fused local traditions and Islamic elements. Spolia from Roman ruins and striped, polylobed arches create the majestic atmosphere of this unique monument. The mihrab also creates a sense of luxury due to the geometric and vegetal designs, as well as the inscriptions all in mosaics.1

In the 16th century, Charles V decided to construct a cathedral in the middle of the mosque, putting his Christian stamp on this Muslim monument.2 Mingling with the original elements of the mosque, such as the polylobed striped arches, the cathedral places Christian symbols and functions on top of this major site of Islamic art and architecture. This is a clear example of triumphalist appropriation since Charles V simply desired the power associated with the Great Mosque, with no regard to the religious function.