Beautiful Repeating Patterns at the Chamber of the Mihrab
I wasn’t aware that there was another entrance to the main mausoleum at the Saadian Tombs. It is not actually an entrance since people can’t really go in, but it allows people to see the inside of the mausoleum. The more popular entrance is the one to the Chamber of the Twelve Columns. This is the one people queue up for and you can only fit two or three people at a time. Because of this, you can’t really linger that long because people are waiting for you. The other one lets visitors look at the Chamber of the Mihrab. The entrance is much larger and there is no queue here.
Detail on the Muqarnas in the Chamber of the Mihrab
I know that the the Chamber of the Mihrab is less showy compared to the Chamber of the Twelve Columns, but at least you are not pressured to leave just because people are queuing up behind you. Because of this, I got a better chance to admire the beautiful Moroccan designs that adorn the Chamber of the Mihrab. This time, I have time to pull out my telephoto lens and get a closer look at the designs. I always admired the intricate designs here but I never knew what to call them. The designs you can see around the arches like doorways are called muqarnas. It is basically vaulting which is made up of shapes which repeat. This produces a very interesting and beautiful pattern. It certainly is better than “merely” having a painting of it. There a various details here for the patient and I’m sure you would be rewarded if you pay closer attention.
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