The historic Great Mosque of Tinmel, a 900-year-old marvel of North African architecture, lies in ruins after a devastating earthquake shook Morocco in September 2023, The Associated Press reports.
The quake, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives and caused widespread destruction across the country, left the mosque’s hand-carved domes and brick-laid arches in pieces.
The mosque, a source of pride and income for the community in a region lacking infrastructure and jobs, was undergoing a restoration project when the earthquake struck. Despite the tragic loss of 15 community members and the destruction of their homes, the residents of Tinmel are determined to rebuild their mosque and their lives.
“This mosque is our heart, our identity,” said Hartatouch, a resident whose home was partially destroyed. “We will rebuild it, brick by brick.”
The restoration effort is among Morocco’s top priorities as it rebuilds from the devastating earthquake. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Ministry of Culture have assembled a team of Moroccan architects, archaeologists, and engineers to oversee the project. They are being assisted by Italian architect Aldo Giorgio Pezzi, who previously worked on the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, one of Africa’s largest.
The task is daunting. The earthquake caused the mosque’s intricate domes and pillars to collapse, scattering fragments of its exquisite lobed arches and hand-carved moldings across the site. Workers are now sifting through the rubble, painstakingly sorting through the remnants of the mosque, preparing to rebuild it using as much of the original structure as possible.
“We are determined to preserve the historical integrity of the mosque,” said one engineer. “We will use traditional techniques and materials wherever possible.”
