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摩苏尔Old City of Mosul

摘要: Justification of Outstanding Universal Value  Established in the 7th century BC, Mosul succeeded the Assyrian Capital of Nineveh in importance during several historical periods. However, it is during

勿斯离 : 西域城名。见于唐段成式《酉阳杂俎》。《诸蕃志》作勿厮离,《岛夷志略》作麻呵斯离,《元史·西北地附录》作毛夕里,《阿老瓦丁传》作木发里。马可·波罗写作Muslin。故址在今伊拉克北部尼内韦赫省首府摩苏尔(Mosul)。该地生产的棉织品很有名,英语muslin ( 棉织品)一词与该地名颇有关系。阿拉伯语名A1-Ma-wsil,意为交接点,因为来自各方的商队在此会合。

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

  Established in the 7th century BC, Mosul succeeded the Assyrian Capital of Nineveh in importance during several historical periods. However, it is during the 12th century AD that Mosul reached the peak of its influence, when it was reigned by the Zangid Dynasty. The oldest and most significant visible layer of the Old City of Mosul's architecture dates back to the 12th-13th centuries AD, reflecting the city’s great significance, power and influence during the Zangid Dynasty.

  The Zangid Dynasty, was founded by Imad ad-Din Zangi who became the governor of Mosul in AD 1127. This Dynasty ruled the area comprising northern Iraq and Syria during AD 1127–1222. The great al-Nouri Mosque and its al-Hadba minaret (the hunchback) in Mosul are thought to have been originally built by Nur ad-Din Zangi in 1172–1173, shortly before he died. Mosul’s early schools of metalwork and painting of the 13th century are attributed to the Zangids. Miniature paintings and the finest metal inlay pieces of the Islamic world were produced in Mosul, with its craftsmen bringing their techniques to other cities like Aleppo, Cairo and Baghdad.

  Al-Nouri mosque became well known for its leaning minaret that had architectural similarities with Persian and Central Asian minarets. By the 14th century, it had already acquired its nickname, al-Hadba, as evidenced by the description of Ibn Battuta. According to the 19th traveler Gratten Greary, the minaret’s “… attitude is that of a man bowing”.

  Al-Nouri mosque was mostly reconstructed in 1942, while the minaret had remained unrestored until it was largely destroyed in June 2017 by ISIL/Daesh. Traditionally, there are various stories linked to the reason of the minaret’s tilt, while few scientific studies that have been carried since the last part of the 20th century out addressing its causes.

  Additionally, Mosul still has the remains of the so-called Citadel of Bashtabia that is also thought to have been built sometime during the 12 century AD, though various sources attribute earlier possible dates to the site. Bashtabia is known to have played an important role in the various invasions and sieges of Mosul. Originally, it had a clearly defined and fortified structure with two main gates: one of the gates (Bab al-Sir) that led directly to the Tigris River, while the other gate (Bab al-Qal'a) opened to the city square.

  When the Ottomans gained control of the city in 1534, Mosul was rebuilt and was transformed into the region's commercial and administrative center. The largest segment of the architectural monuments was - and still is – private houses and palaces from the late Ottoman period (18th-19th centuries). Mosul is considered as the only city along the eastern bank of the Euphrates that is predominantly built of stone and brick. The dominant form of its domestic architecture is houses with cellars (sardib). Extensive use of local alabaster stone from Mosul itself gave its architecture a characteristic style by adorning the arcades, doors and windows of buildings. A group of late Ottoman monumental buildings and the traditional central bazaar, with khans and qaysariyas, is situated on the southern edge of the Old City.

  The Old City of Mosul, with its intricate labyrinth of small streets used to be a very well-preserved heritage environment. In contrast to other towns in Iraq, it had been little affected by modernization, and retained much of its traditional ethnic and religious heterogeneity. The network of streets, alleyways and cul-de-sacs represented one of the best examples of the spontaneously-grown pattern of cities in the Middle East. All of the buildings, together with the domestic architecture and medieval urban plan, gave Mosul a distinctive cityscape.

  Moreover, Mosul, and particularly its Old City, is the physical representation of the cultural diversity that characterized Iraq. Throughout 2500 years, Mosul was the melting pot of diverse cultures and groups, representing Iraq’s pluralistic identity and co-existence among its various ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. This is due to the fact that most, if not all, of the various components of Iraq’s society were represented in Mosul. Before the takeover of Mosul in June 2014 by ISIL/Daesh, and the subsequent battle for its liberation, the Old City of Mosul was a physical reflection of this diversity due to its abundant shrines dedicated to various religious figures – some of whom are revered by the three monotheistic religions – as well as its numerous, churches, mosques, madrassas and cemeteries. The Great al-Nouri Mosque was undoubtedly one of the most significant buildings in the Old City. Its renowned, 44 meter-high al-Hadba minaret represented an important architectural element of the city and became its icon and the symbol by which Mosul’s population identified. Together with the Clock Tower of the Dominican Church, al-Hadba dominated the skyline of Mosul. Other outstanding buildings (such as palaces, mausoleums, etc.) belonged to the 12th century so-called Mosul School that synthesized Egypt's Fatimid and local Christian Nestorian architecture and decorative elements, including highly decorated brick facades, marble interiors and muqarnas vaults. During the reigns of the Mongol and Turkic dynasties, as well as the early Ottoman period, Mosul was further improved by the building of numerous mosques and madrassas, especially in the southern part of the town. Later on, shrines were built for the prophets al-Khidr, Seth and Daniel. The existence of the graves of five Muslim prophets in Mosul gave the town the honorable title of 'the town of prophets'.

Hence, the Old City of Mosul, with its various historical building and sites, may be considered as the result of interchange of values throughout hundreds of years, and is a testimony to Iraq’s rich cultural diversity in its tangible and intangible forms.

  Criterion (iii): Established in the 7th century BC, Mosul reached the height of its influence in the 12th century AD, when it was reigned by the Zangid Dynasty. The Old City of Mosul bears witness to the power and influence of the Zangid Dynasty with its iconic monuments. It was then that the metal craftsmanship and paining schools were established in Mosul, yielding to a flourishing crafts industry by the 13th century, and continuing throughout centuries.

  Criterion (v): The Old City of Mosul represents a complete ensemble of an evolved traditional town through centuries, mainly covering the Ottoman period. With its labyrinth of intricate alleyways, it comprises dwellings, schools, diverse religious buildings, and markets. Buildings are characterized by the use of masonry that is often carved with decorative motives and inscriptions, adorning doors, windows and arcades. This alabaster stone that is locally found (often dubbed as Mosul marble) renders the City its characteristic appearance reflecting architectural sophistication that gives Mosul its distinctive character.

  Criterion (vi): The Old City of Mosul, with its various monuments and buildings reflects an interchange of values of tolerance and co-existence throughout hundreds of years. In its tangible and intangible forms, it is a testimony to the rich cultural diversity of Iraq and the region as a whole, as demonstrated by its numerous monuments representing the different cultural groups, while blending the different elements of Islamic architecture with Christian Nestorian architecture and decorative elements that are characteristic of Mosul.


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