Introduction to the transept of the Cathedral-Mosque of Cordoba (Spain)

• Español
• Inglés
• Francés
• Alemán
• Japonés

• Home
• Web Map
• Contact us
• Forum
• Recommend us

• Return
• Introduction
• The Cathedral
• Iconography
• Main Altar
• The Choir

        We begin the study of the Transept of the Cathedral referring to its polemic related to its building. In the past it was said that, the transept could be built without the necessity of rebuilding a great part of the Mosque. Could nave we seen the previous building of the Mosque in case this one didn’t suffer any modification. Who remembers the Charles I´s words, disqualifying this work.
        In spite of these declarations, there many historians that say explain the importance of the works without those the building couldn’t exist. What could have happened if they didn’t use the building as a sacred place.
        Without any about after making this question I remember the Parthenon in Athens that sadly suffered my battles. This is an extreme case but the question remains: what would they have done with the Mosque if a Cathedral had been built in another place of the city?
        Had the building survived? The scientists say: no. In fact we have to save to say that it endured the pass of the time, and it lasted till nowadays like a miracle Velázquez Bosco knew damaged Mosque so it needed a restoration. Polemic is the sentence pronounced by the Emperor Charles I of Spain and V of Germany: “Yo no sabía que era esto; pues no hubiera permitido que se llegase a lo antiguo, porque hacéis lo que puede haber en otras partes y habéis deshecho lo que era singular en el mundo” (I didn’t know that it was this; then I didn’t allow to destroy the ancient, because to do what exist in other places and you have destroyed what is unique).
        The truth is that there wasn’t consensus since the beginning even among the members of the Church, but these never admitted it but they approve the project and support Bishop Alonso Manrique, the promoter of the works. On the other hand the projects suffered a great popular pressure, as Antonio Toro tells: "… pregonó por las calles y plazas de la ciudad la pena de muerte para albañiles, canteros, carpinteros y peones que aceptaran el contrato para trabajar en la demolición de parte de la antigua Mezquita. Antes aún de su conclusión, el canónigo José Aldrete, en nombre del obispo y del cabildo, dirán que se comenzó «non prudenti consilio»" (They make public in the streets and square the capital death penalty for those bricklayers, carpenters and stone masons who accepted to contract for working in the demolition of the ancient part of the Mosque. Even before its conclusion, the canon José Aldrete said: they will say, we began it «non prudent consili»).
        So the situation was difficult because of the beginning of the works; though the Emperor received many reports of the performance, and insisted on continuing the same.
        For Alberto Villar, Professor of Art History at the University of Córdoba, the conclusion is clear: “… es una falacia, probablemente romántica, probablemente inventada… No podía lamentarse de este modo un Emperador capaz de promover un palacio como el que lleva su nombre sobre el corazón de la Alhambra. Hoy sabemos que el rey Carlos vino a Córdoba en 1526 de paso para Sevilla" (It is a fallacy, probably romantic, probably invented. Couldn’t complain in this way an Emperor able to promote a palace as the one in the Alhambra. Today are now that Carlos came to Córdoba in 1526, then he went to Seville). Besides he wasn’t able to speak in Spanish at the age 26; he was born in 1500.
        Luis Recio Mateo said: As a Catholic Monarch, fighting against the Turkish Islam, he knew the transformation suffered by Saint Sophia in Mosque, he couldn’t respect of changing the Mosque into a Catholic symbol.

Text: J.A.S.C.

Traslated by Sara Moretti