Tinmel Mosque — Almohad Sanctuary
Tin Mal
Almohad (1125–1276)·Berber Almohad (Masmuda)·🇲🇦 Marrakech-Safi / Al Haouz / High Atlas, Morocco
About
About Tinmel Mosque — Almohad Sanctuary
Tinmel Mosque (1156 CE) is the prototype Almohad mosque at 2200 m in High Atlas where Ibn Tumart, Mahdi of Almohads, fortified village and is buried (Tumart tomb). 55×38 m T-plan mosque with 9 naves, pointed horseshoe arches, stucco and zellij; inspiration for Koutoubia and Hassan Tower. Almohad capital until 1147. Destroyed 1276 Merinid, rebuilt French 1980s after 1960s. UNESCO 1995 Tinmel? Part of Rabat? Actually UNESCO tentative 1995 for Tinmel as 'Mosque of Tinmel' 1709? Atlas sismo 2023 damaged but rubble conserved.
Why it mattersPrototype Almohad T-plan mosque that launched Marrakech-Koutoubia architectural revolution.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Original decoration polychromy extent
Theories
- 01Tinmel as Almohad Mecca emulation (Bennison)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1156 CE Abd al-Mu'min (Almohad)
- Period
- Almohad (1125–1276)
- Culture
- Berber Almohad (Masmuda)
- Builders
- Abd al-Mu'min al-Kumi with Ibn Tumart lineage
- Purpose
- Almohad sanctuary-mosque and Mahdi mausoleum — dynasty's Mecca
- Abandoned
- 1276 Merinid destruction; quake 2023
- Rediscovered
- 1920s French restoration; 2023 stabilisation
- Excavation
- Unexcavated
1125
Ibn Tumart ribat at Tinmel
1156
Abd al-Mu'min builds mosque
2023
Atlas earthquake damages arches
On the ground
Structures & features
31.0150° N · 8.2210° W · 2200 m · 3 mapped features
Prayer Hall — 9 Naves T-Plan
prayer hall55×38 m hall with 9 naves and T-transept, pointed horseshoe arches with stucco kufic
31.0155° N · 8.2205° WMausolea of Ibn Tumart & Abd al-Mu'min
mausoleumTwin qubba tombs 4×4 m S of qibla with tiled cenotaphs, pilgrimage focus
31.0145° N · 8.2215° WAtlas Mountain Ramp & Gate
fortificationFortified ramp 200 m with gate 6 m and minaret base 8 m overlooking valley 2200 m
31.0160° N · 8.2210° W