This capital probably came from the splendid Umayyad royal residence city of Madinat al-Zahra’, near Córdoba, Spain, which was founded in 936. The classical tradition so important in Umayyad Syrian art is evident here. This is not surprising in light of the Syrian roots of this caliphal house (711–1031), which arose in Spain after the Umayyad dynasty was replaced and almost extinguished by the new ^cAbbasid rulers centered in Baghdad.

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