Tag: Rote Moschee

It is not a mosque

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“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.”

Aldous Huxley

This is the Red Mosque in the palace gardens of Schwetzingen in Germany.  The mosque was built in 18th century and is today the last surviving of similar constructions that were en vogue in Europe then.  It was never meant as a place of prayer but rather to illustrate the common search for principles of reason in the spirit of enlightenment.  Hence, the words written on the walls may or may not be correct in Arabic, their origin lies rather in Western culture or in how the West perceived Oriental culture.

Erwirb dir Gold so viel du brauchst

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Although it is a wrong image of a foreign culture, it was done with good intentions and the means and knowledge available at the time.

Incidentally, although it has nothing to do with Islam as religion, it is one of the  most popular spots for wedding photographs by Turkish and Arab couples in the region.

Linked to Travel with Intent where you can find more photos inspired by the Huxley quote.

Phases of the moon

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sky

These are skylights in the four corner buildings of the mosque in the palace gardens in Schwetzingen, Germany.  These are not proper skylights but fake windows in the dome of the roofs, showing different phases of the moon: quarter, half, three quarters and full moon.  The Red Mosque was never intended as a place of worship but is considered a “folly” – a building which served no purpose but to be there and be beautiful.  It was constructed at the end of the 18th century when all things Turkish were very fashionable.  It combines elements of Eastern and Western architecture.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Sky