| Bab er-Rouah | |
|---|---|
باب الرواح | |
 The outer façade of the gate | |
 Interactive map of Bab er-Rouah | |
| General information | |
| Type | City Gate |
| Architectural style | Almohad,Moroccan |
| Location | Rabat |
Bab er-Rouah (Arabic:باب الرواح,romanized: Bāb al-Ruwāḥ,lit. 'Gate of the Winds'; also spelledBab er-Ruwah orBab Rouah) is a monumentalgate in theAlmohad-era ramparts ofRabat,Morocco.
It was built by the AlmohadcaliphYa'qub al-Mansur in the late 12th century, as part of the monumental capital he started building here. The gate and its adjoining ramparts were finished by 1197.[1][2] TheArabic nameBab ar-Ruwah, meaning "Gate of the Winds", likely derives from the strongAtlantic winds which batter the city.[3]
The entrance archway of the gate today is smaller than it was originally because it has been partly filled-in with smaller stones.[3] This reduction dates from the time of theAlaouite sultanSidi Muhammad ibn Abdallah (second half of 18th century), who made similar adjustments to theBab Agnaou gate inMarrakesh.[1][4]: 480
Today the gate's interior has been converted into an art gallery. It was recently renovated in 2000–2001.[2]
The gate is notable for its defensive structure as well as for its rich stone-carved decoration which is comparable to other monumental Almohad gates such asBab Oudaia to the north (also in Rabat) and toBab Agnaou inMarrakesh.[5][6] The gate was built in reddish stone but the constant blow of the seaborne winds has changed much of its colour to a duller grey.[3] The gate's exterior entrance is flanked by two bastion towers. The archway of the entrance was partially filled-in with a smaller arch under theAlaouitesultanMuhammad ibn Abdallah in the second half of the 18th century.[1]
The decoration of the gate's outer façade includes threeconcentric semi-circles carved withpolylobed and radiating motifs, which are in turn framed inside a rectangularalfiz. The two ends of the innermost semi-circle, at the spring of the arch, are carved into "S"-like serpentine forms which are also seen at Bab Oudaia but very rarely elsewhere.[3][5] The spandrels between in the corners within thisalfiz are carved with arabesque vegetal motifs in at the center of which is a carved seashell. The frame of thealfiz itself contains an Arabic inscription in Kufic script featuring aQur'anic verse, translated as the following:[3]
Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: those who do this are the successful ones. Do not be like those who, after they have been given clear revelation, split into factions and fall into disputes: a terrible punishment awaits such people.
— Qur'an, 3:104-5
The gate's interior passage passes through four chambers and turns 90 degrees four times, constituting a complexbent entrance typical of Almohad military architecture.[7][3] One of the chambers was originally open from above (but is sheltered by a roof today) so that the defenders could throw projectiles onto any attackers entering the gate.[3] The inner façade of the gate, facing towards the city, is more simply decorated with a single polylobed semi-circle carved around the horseshoe archway, which is framed by a wide band filled with asebka pattern.
34°0′46.1″N6°50′15.5″W / 34.012806°N 6.837639°W /34.012806; -6.837639