| The
traditional Middle Eastern city is walled. Walls have
gates, which are points of access to the city. Here you
see that the walls of Marrakech are fortress-like; often
20 to 30 feet thick and 30 to 40 feet high. There are
half a dozen prominent gates, and this, the Gate of
Guinea (Bab Aguenaou), was built by order of Sultan
Yaacoub el Mansour in 1185. An impressive design made
from local blue granite, it is a prime example of
Moroccan decorative art from the Almohad period
(1150-1250). |
Islamic
cities are walled structures, indicating a value placed
on defense. Here, at the city of El Jadida on the
Atlantic coast, the old city, or medina as it is called,
is enclosed by the walls. Cities are also located in
defensive locations, such as El Jadida's slight
promontory along an otherwide smooth coastline south of
Casablanca. El
Jadida, which was originally known as Mazagan, was
entirely built by the Portuguese in the 1600s when they
built a fort here at the edge of the rich grain country
of the district known as the Doukkala. It is today
largely an administrative center and summer beach resort. |
