2024-12-23T02:13:40-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/149981630/the-cultural-paradox-of-the-great-mosque-cathedral-of-cordoba Nicholas Korody 2016-12-06T12:21:00-05:00 >2016-12-06T21:06:45-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/b2/b2c6q487nubi95wi.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>The mosque-cathedral of C&oacute;rdoba in southern Spain is one of the great Rorschach tests of medieval architecture. Like the ink blots that psychologists use to divine unconscious thoughts, we tend to see in the building what we please. For some, it embodies the artistic creativity and religious tolerance of the Muslim period. For others, it is a symbol of the conquests and bloodshed that have washed over this region throughout the centuries.</p></em><br /><br /><p><em>Whichever message we choose, the mosque is surely one of the most beautiful and controversial monuments in Europe today.</em></p><p>More religious architecture:</p><ul><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149943479/artist-catalogs-the-drab-architecture-of-america-s-megachurches" target="_blank">Artist catalogs the drab architecture of America's megachurches</a></li><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149938802/ancient-italian-church-comes-back-to-life-built-in-wire-mesh" target="_blank">Ancient Italian church comes back to life &ndash; built in wire mesh</a></li><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/144504662/omaha-is-building-a-tri-faith-campus-with-a-church-a-mosque-and-a-synagogue-no-joke" target="_blank">Omaha is building a Tri-Faith campus with a church, a mosque and a synagogue (no joke)</a></li><li><a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/139317744/drought-reveals-16th-century-church-beneath-mexican-reservoir" target="_blank">Drought reveals 16th century church beneath Mexican reservoir</a></li></ul>