Madinat al-Zahra: The Radiant Capital of Islamic Spain, at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University (NYU), is the first U.S. exhibition about Madinat al-Zahra, the Tenth-century fortified palace-city which was the capital of Islamic Spain. It was famed center of the sciences, arts, and literature in the medieval world. Technical advances made there are the foundation for our modern life.
The “Other” Great European Civilization
In the United States, we have been taught about the two great European civilizations, the Roman Empire, and The Renaissance. But there was another one which most of us have not been taught about. Islamic Spain was equally important to history and who we are today.
- Roman Empire (753 BCE – 476 CE)
- Islamic Spain (711-1492)
- Renaissance (1450-1650)
Spain is only nine miles from Mother Africa. The Strait of Gibraltar (Pillars of Hercules) has always been place where people migrate and mix. It’s even on the Spanish flag. Christian Europe and the Islamic World have been fighting each other for over a thousand years. Each considers the other the infidel, but actually we are sister civilizations that borrow and steal from each other. We fight like brothers and sisters, even though we shouldn’t. All religions venerate the same One, who does not want the children to fight.
Madinat al-Zahra: The Radiant Capital of Islamic Spain
Built by Umayyad caliph ‘Abd al-Rahman III and his son Al-Hakam II, Madinat al-Zahra was a fortified city on the outskirts of present-day Córdoba, Spain. Under the Umayyads, the Iberian Peninsula — historically known as al-Andalus — became a hub for artists, poets, scholars, and diplomats from around the world. These diverse influences came together in a new, distinct artistic style that embodied the multicultural spirit of the dynasty.
The multicultural influences are apparent in the artifacts selected for ISAW’s new exhibition, the first in the U.S. to showcase the splendor of Madinat al-Zahra. Its primary focus is the history of the site, from construction to abandonment, offering a comprehensive selection of capitals, bases, and other architectural elements for viewing. In building Madinat al-Zahra, ‘Abd al-Rahman III was inspired by Islamic art from as far as Baghdad and North Africa, but he also valued the artistic legacy of classical Rome, bringing in statues and sarcophagi to decorate the grounds.
Madinat al-Zahra also highlights the caliphs’ international taste in luxury arts: intricately carved ivory cosmetics boxes were prized throughout the medieval world, while brightly glazed ceramics conveyed the caliph’s power to the many visitors to the city. The royal workshops crafted wondrous gifts for foreign rulers, such as bronze fountain spouts in the shape of animals, silver perfume bottles, and ornate jewelry of gold, pearls, and semiprecious stones. Particular attention in the exhibition is also given to the Umayyads’ contributions to science and technology through the display of sundials that were used in early Islamic astronomy.
Curated by Antonio Vallejo Triano, director of the Conjunto Arqueológico Madinat al-Zahra, and Eduardo Manzano Moreno, research professor at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas in Madrid, Madinat al-Zahra features loans from the Conjunto Arqueológico Madinat al-Zahra, Museo Arqueológico y Etnológico de Córdoba, Museo de Jaén, Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Jerez de la Frontera, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the American Numismatic Society, and the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. The exhibition and its accompanying catalogue were made possible by the generous support of the Achelis and Bodman Foundation, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, and the Leon Levy Foundation. Additional funding was provided by Liz and Iris Fernandez Zimick.
“This exhibition will allow us to show American audiences the wonders of the caliphal city of Madinat al-Zahra, an outstanding example on the international stage of Andalusian art and archeology. Due to its extraordinary artistic and cultural legacy, this will be one of the best introductions for the American people to experience the rich cultural history managed by the Regional Government of Andalucía,” shared the Andalusian Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, Patricia del Pozo Fernández.
A slate of multidisciplinary programming complements ISAW’s exhibition throughout its run. Planned events include a talk with the exhibit curators, teacher training tours and workshops, public lectures with leading historians, a free concert of music from the Andalusian region with the New York Andalus Ensemble, and gallery drawing workshops with illustrator Joan Chiverton. Additionally, the show is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with thematic essays exploring the role of Madinat al-Zahra as a cultural capital and focused essays on each category of artifacts on display.
Visitors to ISAW’s exhibition are encouraged to access the new gallery guide “Galleries @ ISAW” on Bloomberg Connects, a free app that features expanded stories, highlights and videos of the objects, and self-guided audio tours. An exhibition website (madinatalzahra.com) will also launch on October 30, 2024, delving deeper into the artifacts, places, and themes of Madinat al-Zahra.
Visit
The Madinat al-Zahra: The Radiant Capital of Islamic Spain exhibition opens with a lecture by the curators Antonio Vallejo Triano and Eduardo Manzano Moreno; at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University (NYU) in Manhattan’s Upper East Side; on October 30, 2024 at 5:30pm. Free with rsvp isaw.nyu.edu 🇪🇸
Madinat al-Zahra: The Radiant Capital of Islamic Spain
October 30, 2024–March 2, 2025
Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
15 East 84th Street
Upper East Side, Manhattan
There are many events around the exhibition, including guided tours on Fridays at 6pm and Saturdays at 11am. These will greatly enhance your visit.