MiÎrab from the Mausoleum of Uwais
About the exhibition
This upper part of a prayer-niche is a unique witness not only of the highly developed Syrian artwork of the late 8th and early 9th century. At the same time is demonstrates the calm adaptation of Christian-Byzantine objects for Islamic purposes, even religious.
Originally the piece had been the lid of a Byzantine sarcophagus, as can be seen on the outer part: it has a triangular profile and is shaped like a roof covered with rows of slightly pointed tiles and even adorned with an acroterion, a typical classical decoration at the front top (now mostly missing).
For unknown reasons the sarcophagus lid was no longer used and the precious marble was re-worked as an Islamic prayer-niche. Surrounded by several decorative bands a broad border of undulating tendrils encloses the main field with a large palmette, surrounded by leaves.
The ornamental style with the vegetal motifs resembles very much the stucco decorations in the Abbasid palaces in Raqqa and, a little later, in Samarra (Iraq).
The MiÎrāb was installed in the old mausoleum of Uwais al-Qaranī. According to an inscription the small building was restored in 1864-65. In 1987 the mausoleum was removed and the adjacent cemetery was transferred to the modern cemetery.
Cemetery at the Mausoleum with traffic light, ca. 1985
Mausoleum of Uwais, beginning 20th century, photo Max von Oppenheim