Morocco (May 2023): Burial places in Marrakesh
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On this trip to Morocco I only spent two full days in Marrakesh. Here, my
main focus was to take photos of burial places, in order to complete a book,
entitled ˝Journeys
Where Time Is Abolished˝, featuring photos of burial places (tombs, cemeteries,
mausoleums...) from around the world. I visited three places: the Saadian Tombs
(as early as possible in the morning to avoid their massive invasion by tourist
groups), two of the mausoleums of the Seven Saints of Marrakesh, and the Miara (Jewish)
cemetery.
Saadian Tombs:
They are grouped
into a complex two mausoleums forming the necropolis of the rulers of the
Saadian dynasty. In the 16th and 17th centuries this dynasty ruled over a vast
territory covering present-day Morocco and parts of West Africa, culminating in
the reign of Ahmed al-Mansour from 1578 to 1603. The first mausoleum was built
between 1557 and 1574 by the second Saadian ruler, Abdallah al-Ghalib, in honor
of his father, Muhammad al-Shaykh. It contains the tombs of al-Shaykh and
al-Ghalib, as well as the tomb of Lalla Massaouda, a
wife of al-Shaykh and the mother of al-Ghalib and al-Mansour. The other
mausoleum was built during the reign of al-Mansour. It consists of three
chambers, including the Chamber of the Twelve Columns (a burial chamber) and
the Chamber of the Mihrab (a prayer hall).
Interior of
the Chamber of the Twelve Columns. The tomb of al-Mansour is in the foreground of
the first photo below, between two other tombs.
Left: The Chamber of the Mihrab. Center: Inside the older mausoleum (the
tomb of Lalla Massaouda is in the niche carved in the back wall). Right: Other
tombs in the courtyard between the two mausoleums.
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Mausoleums of two of the Seven Saints of Marrakesh:
The Seven
Saints of Marrakesh (the "Sabatu Rijal") are historical Muslim figures who lived
between the 12th and 16th centuries. They were established as an institution
well beyond their death under the reign of Moulay Ismael (1672-1727), the
second ruler of the Alaouite dynasty, to enhance the spiritual reputation of
Marrakesh. As most of them lived and died elsewhere in Morocco, their remains
were moved to Marrakesh and reburied there. The seven tombs,
spread throughout the city, then became the stages of an annual week-long
pilgrimage to venerate the knowledge, piety, and wisdom of the Seven Saints.
Courtyard and entrance of the burial
chamber of the mausoleum of Sidi Abdelaziz al-Tebbaa,
who founded a Sufi center in Marrakesh and died in 1508.
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Courtyard and burial chamber of the mausoleum
of Sidi Abdallah al-Ghazwani, the successor of
Abdelaziz al-Tebbaa until his death in 1529.
Miara cemetery:
Dating back
to the 15th century, this is the largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco, with over
20,000 graves. It is well-maintained and still in use today for the remaining
Jewish community (a few thousand people) of Marrakesh. It offers an impressive
and highly spiritual sight.
Views over the white-washed and sandy graves
in the cemetery.
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Lazama synagogue:
It is located in
a narrow street of the Mellah (Jewish quarter) close to
the Miara cemetery.
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