This article provides political and religious background regarding traditions in Andalusia and North Africa. The article is best read after completing a review of the physical descriptions of the building and its historical development.
Jerrilynn D. Dodds, Architecture and Ideology in Early Medieval Spain. The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, 1989
A good overview of Spanish architecture including commentary on the ideas behind the Architecture.
Richard Ettinghousen, Oleg Grabar and Marilyn Jenkins-Madina, Islamic Art and Architecture 650-1250 Yale University Press, New Haven 2001
Robert Hillebrand, Islamic Art and Architecture Thames and Hudson Ltd, London 1999
John Hoag, Western Islamic Architecture Braziller, New York 1963
The three books mentioned above provide good background on Islamic Art and Architecture regarding specifics of detailing, sculpture and historical precedents that are relevant for the examination of the Cordoba mosque.
Rafael Lopez Guzman, La Architectura del Islam Occidental Lunwerg Editores, Barcelona 1995
Similar to the above, this book provides a good background on Islamic Art in the West. It is in Spanish.
This article introduces concepts of symbolism and identity in the Cordoba mosque. I would suggest reading it after the basic physical characteristics of the building have been reviewed and understood
Gabriel Ruiz Cabrero, Dibujos de la Catedral de Córdova. Cabildo Catedral de Córdova, Córdova 2009
An excellent set of detailed drawings of the building, including plans, elevations and cross sections, as well as some photographs. The information is more geared for architects who know how to read drawings, as there are scant labels or explanations.
This is a short and thorough article by Mr. Ruiz Cabrero. He is the architect who has been working for many years in the restoration and maintenance of the Cordoba mosque. It is interesting that the article is labeled “La Mezquita de Cordoba” (i.e., the mosque of Córdoba), whereas Ruiz Cabrero’s book of drawings listed above is labeled “Dibujos de la Catedral de Córdoba” (i.e., the cathedral of Córdoba), which highlights the very old controversy regarding the status of this religious monument, which is ‘owned and used’ by the Catholic Archdioceses of Córdoba and where Muslims do not hold religious services.
