The Fatimid Mosque of Mahdia
The Fatimid Grand Mosque
The great Fatimid mosque of Mahdia was founded by Obeid Allah el Mahdi in 921. This building was erected on a platform partly reclaimed from the sea.
This mosque had two common walls with the maritime rampart of the medina. It should also be noted that this mosque was completely renovated, almost rebuilt, between 1961 and 1965, according to the exact plans of the tenth century sanctuary.
The monumental porch of the mosque was reserved for the entrances and exits of the Mahdi. The courtyard and the prayer hall were laid out by the Zirids in the eleventh century.
In the past, an aqueduct supplied water to the cisterns of the mosque and the Mahdi palace, of which only ruins remain.
Mahdia’s heritage is also the Borj el Kebir, a sixteenth-century fortress. It is also the Skifa kahla, the dark porch that marked the entrance to the old medina.
This enormous fortified city gate dates from 1554, after the departure of the Spaniards. It replaced the old Fatimid door of the tenth century.
The Fatimid Mosque of Mahdia in Video
Where to Find The Fatimid Mosque of Mahdia
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before visiting
The mosque was founded in 921 CE by Obeid Allah el Mahdi, the first Fatimid caliph, as the main congregational mosque of his new capital. It was built partly on reclaimed sea and featured a monumental entrance porch reserved exclusively for the caliph.
The mosque is one of the earliest surviving Fatimid religious buildings and features an exceptionally large monumental porch - a feature that would become characteristic of later Fatimid mosque design in Egypt. Its proportions and the clarity of its courtyard plan are regarded as masterworks of early Islamic architecture.
Yes. The Zirid dynasty made modifications in the 10th century, and the mosque underwent significant renovation between 1961 and 1965 to restore it from a state of near ruin after centuries of neglect and partial demolition.
Non-Muslim visitors may enter the courtyard and admire the exterior of the prayer hall. Modest dress is required. The mosque is an active place of worship, so visitors should avoid prayer times.
The mosque is located within the medina of Mahdia on the narrow peninsula, a short walk from the Skifa Kahla gateway and the fishing port.
Mahdia was founded by the Fatimids in 916 CE as a new city designed to secure their power in the western Mediterranean. It served as the Fatimid capital until they conquered Egypt and founded Cairo in 969 CE.
