Dictionary of islamic architecture

See also:
Aghlabids, Monastir, Sfax, Susa, Tunis,
Tunisia
Further reading:
L.W.Boothe, ‘The Great Mosque of Qirouan’, 
Oriental Art
New Series
16: 321–36, 1970.
L.Golvin, ‘Quelques réflexions sur la Grande Mosquée de
Kairouan à la période des Aghlabides’, 
Revue de
l’Occident musulmans et de la Méditerranée,
1968.
qal
a
Castle, fortress or citadel.
Qal
at Banu Hammad
Eleventh-century capital of the Hammadids located in the
mountains to the south of Algiers.
The city was founded in 1007 by Hammad ibn
Buluggin, although it did not become capital until
1015 when Hammad withdrew his allegiance from
the Fatimids. Excavations at the site have revealed
the plan of the Great Mosque and three palaces. The
buildings were constructed of roughly squared
stones laid in courses which were originally covered
in plaster. The Great Mosque was built in the North
African style with its aisle running perpendicular
to the qibla wall. Opposite the qibla wall is a square
minaret 25 m high, with large blind niches which
were originally decorated with coloured glazed
tiles. The remains of the palaces indicate a high
degree of wealth and probably an elaborate
ceremonial function. One of the palaces is built
around a cruciform tower containing ramps which
led to a domed pavilion on the top. Another palace
was built around a rectangular pond or lake
measuring 65 by 45 m. The palaces were decorated
with stucco which included early examples of
muqarnas decoration.
See also:
Algeria
Further reading:
L.Golvin, 
Recherches Archéologiques à la Qal
a des Banu
Hammad,
CNRS , Paris 1965.
A.Lezine, ‘Le Minaret de la Qal
a des Banu Hammad’,
Bulletin d’Archéologie Algérienne
2: 261–70, 1966–7.
qanat
Subterranean canal system usually used to bring
water some distance from a river or mountains.
Access to the qanat is by vertical shafts at regular
distances.
Qairawan

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