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ATA Flashback

 


Moulay- Idriss


The saintly town of Moulay Idriss strikes the visitors arriving by road from Meknès (15 miles away) as a white mass clinging to the top of Zerhoun elevation, as if resisting to fall down into the river Khomane. The Roman city of Volubilis is just a stone's throw away. This proximity, as well as the presence of a thermal structure (bamma) and of Roman columns stems, have led some to incorrectly believe that the town has a Roman origin. The town's name came from (Moulay) Idriss 1, a descendant of the prophet and founder of the first Muslim dynasty in Morocco, who was buried on the site. In the beginning, only a few houses surrounded the tomb. Then, as seventeenth century historians Leo Africanus and Marmol pointed out, habitations and construction began to spring up around the mosque and tomb in order to accommodate and serve an increasing number of pilgrims.

The mausoleum had a cupola added in 1660 by Sidi Abdelkader, Ben Addou, himself a descendant of the Saint. Every year a month of religious celebrations is dedicated to the memory of Idriss, descendant of the prophet and founder of the first Muslim dynasty in the country.

Africa Travel Association
347 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Sixth Cultural and Ecotourism Symposium Fez, Morocco
December 8 through December 13, 2002

africatravelasso@aol.com
(212) 447-1926

 


Photo Credits: Morocco Office of Tourism