It is a well-known fact that Libya is a country which has received very little serious study in the field of Islamic art and aroheaology. In Libya most research and study in art and archeaology has been centred on the Greek and Roman heritag+e$ and even the prehistoric era has received considerably more attention than the Islamic period. In the past ten years, howeverg excavations have been carried out in some Islamic sites both in the east and south of the country, yet so many other sites remain unexcavated and unsurveyed. The area of the Jabal Nafüsa is considered to be one of these important but neglected regions. The impetus behind this thesis, therefore, is to contribute to the present knowledge and it aims at paving the way for those who intend to go further by studying the remains of this area in greater detail. The other purpose of this thesis is to throw some light on some Islamic sites which should receive priority when carrying out excavations in the Jabal NaMsa. One obstacle that meets the scholar is to establish the historical background relative to the area of study. In the Jabal Nafüsa the historical information that we possess is scarce and sometimes obscure. This thesis contains an attempt to study the history of this area, especially concerning the first centuries of the Islamic era. Analogy and comparison were applied in order to form the historical background needed for studying some old Islamic monuments in the Jabal NafUsa. In chapters two, three and four, the emphasis is apparent on studying architecture and decorations. In the field of architecture a detailed study was applied to some Islamic remains in the area. These selected monuments reveal the variety of architectural features in the Jabal. Again comparative examples show the outaide influence on the Jabal and in addition architectural oharacteristics of local origin could be pointed out. The same method was followed when discussing the decorations which were found in some of the mosques mentioned. Comparison between these decorations and other similar dated examples made it possible to see the influence of other decorations found in different parts of the Islamic world. In chapter five the study of some mosques in Tmizda area has revealed new elements represented in the Christian and Roman influence on the Jabal. Chapter six is devoted to inscriptions which were found in various mosques in the Jabal Nafffsa. Comparative material helped in studying their style as well as suggesting an approximate date concerning the inscriptions of the Jabal. Finally this thesis could be considered as a humble attempt to illustrate some aspects of the Jabal Nafnsa, not only in respect to its importance in Islamic studies, but also in connection to other areas of study upon which some questions have been raised throughout the thesis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:291346 |
| Date | January 1981 |
| Creators | Warfalli, Muhammad Salim Muqayyid |
| Publisher | SOAS, University of London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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