Saadien’s Tombs

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Property Name: Saadien’s Tombs
Inventory No: 212-2-3
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2008-02-29
Country (State party): Morocco
Province: Marrakesh
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 31° 37′ 2.06″ N
7° 59′ 20″ W
Historic Period: Unknown
Year of Construction: late 16th century
Style: Sa’dian
Original Use: Mausoleum
Current Use: Mausoleum
Architect: Unknown

Significance
This royal tomb complex consists of two pavilions and a garden setting. The earlier structure, containing the tomb of Muhammad ash-Shaykh, was built by his son. It is a square chamber open on two sides. Then it was enlarged by Ahmad al-Mansur in 1590, who built for himself another pavilion of three rooms including a central chamber with twelve columns, preceded by an ornately decorated sanctuary. The painted offered timber ceilings with geometric interlaces, carved columns and capitals, muqarnas corbelling and abundant stucco and glazed tile-mosaic enrich these tombs.

Selection Criteria
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance

State of Preservation
The Saadian tombs are date to time of the Saadian dynasty sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578–1603). The mausoleum comprises the interments of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the valley of the Draa River. Abandoned for centuries, the tombs were rediscovered in 1917 by aerial photography and were renovated by the Beaux-arts service.
Restored by the Fine Arts and Historical Monuments Department, they will be permanently protected.
In good condition and open to visit.

References
Michell, George. Architecture of the Islamic World: Its History and Social Meaning. Thames and Hudson, London, 1978