Name of Monument:

Bab Rwah

Location:

Rabat, Morocco

Date of Monument:

Finished in Hegira 593 / AD 1197

Period / Dynasty:

Almohad

Patron(s):

Abu Yusuf Ya‘qub al-Mansur (r. AH 579–95 / AD 1184–99).

Description:

At 28 m wide, 27 m deep and 12 m high, Bab Rwah (the Gate of Departure), referred to in some sources as Bab er-Rih (the Gate of Wind) or Bab er-Rebeh (the Gate of Success), is the largest gate in the Almohad wall of Rabat. It is also the most richly decorated, even if its military function is somewhat more evident with the four successive bends in the guardroom, one of which is open-air. It was the Almohads who made widespread use of the bent entrance, although it had previously been used by the Almoravids.
The existing archway, slightly pointed and raised, was added at the end of the AH 12th / AD 18th century. It gives access to four square rooms whose sides are 5.65 m long and which are linked by two halls measuring 4.20 m by 2.20 m.
Located practically in the centre of the west face of the wall, the gate is flanked on the outside by two bastions, which protrude 4.96 m and add to its imposing and majestic character. The arch is decorated with festooned knotwork, interwoven archivolts and another row of festoons. The floral arabesque spandrels are marked with a large shell in relief, a band of kufic writing frames the arch and, in the corners, small columns with sculpted capitals support lobed corbels.
The internal, staggered passageway is covered by domes, one of which is gadrooned and supported by pendentives.
The four guardrooms located inside the gateway are currently used as art galleries.

Bab Rwah is the largest gateway in the Rabat town wall, built by the Almohad Ya'qub al-Mansur. Measuring 28 m wide, 12 m tall and 27 m deep, its four chicanes and its guard rooms reveal its defensive function. The gateway is flanked by two bastions projecting 5 m, which accentuates its majestic character. The archway itself, framed by a kufic inscription, is richly decorated with interlacing designs, archivolts and festoons. Corner columns with capitals support lobed corbels. The existing arch, slightly pointed and stilted, was added in the AH 12th / AD 18th century.

How Monument was dated:

The gate is an integral part of the Almohad wall of Rabat. The access arch (Aluwid) is indirectly cited by al-Doaif in Tarikh addawla al-Alawiya (Casablanca, 1988).

Selected bibliography:

Caillé, J., La ville de Rabat jusqu'au Protectorat Français, 3 vols., Paris, 1949.
Marçais, G., L'architecture musulmane d'Occident, Paris, 1954.
Terrasse, H., “Le décor des portes anciennes du Maroc”, Hespéris, 1923, pp.147–74.
Andalusian Morocco: A Discovery in Living Art, pp.224–5.

Citation of this web page:

Kamal Lakhdar "Bab Rwah" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;ma;Mon01;7;en

Prepared by: Kamal LakhdarKamal Lakhdar

Linguiste et sociologue de formation, c'est en autodidacte que Kamal Lakhdar s'est adonné aux études d'histoire du Maroc et du monde arabo-musulman, en axant tout spécialement ses recherches sur l'histoire de Rabat.
Sa carrière de haut fonctionnaire l'a conduit à occuper des fonctions de premier plan auprès de différents ministères. Il a notamment été membre du cabinet du ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur, conseiller du ministre des Finances, conseiller du ministre du Commerce et de l'Industrie, directeur de cabinet du ministre du Tourisme, chargé de mission auprès du Premier ministre et directeur de cabinet du Premier ministre.
Parallèlement, Kamal Lakhdar mène des activités de journaliste et d'artiste peintre – il a d'ailleurs été membre du Conseil supérieur de la Culture.
Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: Laurence Nunny
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen

MWNF Working Number: MO 09