ALMINAR OF ARCHEZ
A translation of leaflet compiled by the Junta de Andalucia (Government of Andalucia), the Advisory for Education and Science, and the Advisory for Culture and the Environment.
“In the name of merciful and pity of God”
The alminar is a typical example of islamic architecture. It is about a tower from where the almuedano or muecin calls the faithful to prayer.
The origin of the alminar, also called a minaret, is unknown and its presence has not been shown in the era of Mohamet. Without doubt soon it extended its use, arriving to constitute a symbol of the presence of Islam in all conquered territories.
That of Archez is one of the most outstanding alminares in the province of Malaga because of its rich decoration. It is a square of 3.64m each side, with a central square pillar of 1.07m, around which elevates a winding staircase. The total height is some 15m. Chronologically it can put itself between the 13th and 14th century. Similar models are found among the alminares of Tremecen and Tunis.
We can differentiate several figures in the alminar of Archez. The first does not have any type of decoration. It is constructed, as the rest of the alminar with red bricks, although until a short time ago they were whitewashed. Later on, after the works of consolidation, the entrance has been lifted above ground level and is accessed across a stairway.
In the second figure, a profuse decoration is developed that characterises this alminar. On a rectangle rehundido are arranged bricks cut forming a rhombus mixtilineus. The upper part of the rectangle is finished off by ring shaped pieces, while that at the bottom some columns were arranged which have disappeared.
The third figure is surrounded by impostas of brick. Its decoration is the base of horseshoe shaped arches interlaced with five horseshoe arches each one pointing to the four sides of the alminar. In the spaces between the arches the rest of the paintings of geometric type have been conserved: rhombuses, squares, and dameros.
The decoration of this second figure is completed with a horizontal ribbon-shaped forming blue rhombuses on a white background.
The fourth figure constitutes the bell tower. Originally the alminar was finished off with a terrace, but after the conquest by the Christians it lifts a square body which opens in each one of its sides a hollow for the bells.
The cover for the body of bellsis realised with a tiled roof to four slopes that did not exist when the tower carried out its primitive function of alminar.