The Diversity Of Early African Architecture/Ruins Thread

[IdrisAlooma1570]

I have the book, if you would like I could send you some scans

Sure thanks

 

[Bamun26]

Old Benin(Nigeria) and Dahomey

Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk

 

[edrizzy29]

Old and modern pics from the Palace of Ali Dinar(1856-1916), last Sultan of the Sultanate of Darfur.

More old and recent pics from the palace of the Sultanate of Darfur.





These pictures were taken after the restoration that happened in 2020(I believe)






The last Sultan of Darfur, Ali Dinar(Left)

 

[edrizzy29]

Ruins of the Houses of Daali and Kuuru. Located in Darfur. Daali was the first ruler of the Keira dynasty, which ruled the Sultanate of Darfur from the 17th century until the early 20th century. Sultan Kuru(Kuuru) mentioned in the next 2 pictures was the Sultan who succeeded Daali.

 

[EAdama]

Here are some reconstructions of Meroitic palaces


















Source: Palais et grandes demeures du royaume de Méroé

 

[Kilwa Sultanate]

That’s definitely not a Zulu town, I think it’s somewhere in central Africa. This is more like Zulu architecture
View attachment 41381View attachment 41382View attachment 41383View attachment 41384

Want to visit next time I go back to South Africa.

 

[Ighayere]

Not to come across as nitpicking, but this is actually a carved door from Yorubaland, in Nigeria. It is not from Benin (in Nigeria) or from Dahomey.

One can see that same image here:

https://twunroll.com/article/943775234330591232

Where it is labeled:

"Carved door, Owo Ekiti, Yoruba" – P. Amaury Talbot, c. 1920s.

 

[Kilwa Sultanate]

I also seen the Kilwa ruins.

 

[Sundiata1]

Here are some reconstructions of Meroitic palaces

Great stuff.

I have a few photographs of the ruins of these Napato-Meroitic palaces, worth a share here as well.

The Meroitic governor's palace at Karanog in Lower Nubia was the most well preserved example (no rains in Lower Nubia), until it was flooded by Lake Nasser. This 3 storey edifice was actually one of the smallest palaces on record:



Very beautifully reconstructed:



The rest are from Upper Nubia (Sudan):

Palace B100 and B1200, Napata.


Palace B100 from Napata, close-up:


The Meroitic palace at Wad Ben Naqa. Take note of its size (there are three people standing in the lower left corner for some perspective):


Palace M750, at Meroë:


The palace at Muweis:


The palace at El Hassa:

 

[Sundiata1]

And some information about the palace at Wad Ben Naqa:


A third palace from Napata, Palace B1500:


Site plan of B1500 Napata:


Reconstruction of one of the interior, columned courtyards of B1500:



A tentative reconstruction of the exterior, although very outdated, it does give a good idea of its size:


Kushites loved lions, and decorated the palaces and temples of their cities with lion statues. Here are 2 examples in-situ, at palace B1500:



A tentative reconstruction of the palace at Muweis



Reconstruction of Hamadab, a few kilometers south of Meroë, with it's palace:


Somewhat reminiscent of the much, much later Funj palace at Sennar:

 

[EAdama]

Somewhat reminiscent of the much, much later Funj palace at Sennar:
View attachment 42292
[/QUOTE]
@Sundiata1, do you know of any articles or books on Funj architecture?

 

[Sundiata1]

@Sundiata1, do you know of any articles or books on Funj architecture?

No, not really.

But that engraving came from Voyage à Meroé, by Frederic Cailiaud, 1823, and it contains a few more engravings of interest regarding the Funj (besides the wealth of Napato-Meroitic ruins documented in it):
"Abochera", a town in the "Kingdom of Sennar":


"Elqerebyn"



And the mosque of Sennar:


From other sources:

Front angle of the mosque:


Random house in Sennar:


General view, 1821:


Another general view, 1884:


Of course, it goes without saying that the Funj Sultanate was already in a century and a half of decline by the time these engravings were made...

 

[Bamun26]

Not to come across as nitpicking, but this is actually a carved door from Yorubaland, in Nigeria. It is not from Benin (in Nigeria) or from Dahomey.

One can see that same image here:

https://twunroll.com/article/943775234330591232

Where it is labeled:

"Carved door, Owo Ekiti, Yoruba" – P. Amaury Talbot, c. 1920s.

Thanks for the correction.

Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk

 

[DanAlquati]

Inner workings of either Benin or Dahomey

 

[Ighayere]

View attachment 42373
Inner workings of either Benin or Dahomey

Interesting photograph. It looks like a room for a shrine. The architecture of those two kingdoms (Benin and Dahomey) was quite distinct from one another. They were not alike except in a very general sense (similar materials used, etc.), so the architecture of one was not representative of the other. What is the source of this image and is there a date for it as well?

 

[DanAlquati]

Interesting photograph. It looks like a room for a shrine. The architecture of those two kingdoms (Benin and Dahomey) was quite distinct from one another. They were not alike except in a very general sense (similar materials used, etc.), so the architecture of one was not representative of the other. What is the source of this image and is there a date for it as well?

Unfortunately there isn't a credible source (or least one that's currently available), certain posts on Facebook and Twitter claim it belongs to one of those kingdoms but that's it.

 

[Bai Yong Rei]

These pics are from the future museum "Edo Museum Of West African Art". The museum will highlight the culture of the Benin Kingdom.





Source: Edo Museum of West African Art

Are these what the Benin houses actually looked like? because I can't find any precolonial images of them anywhere so they must have gotten their reference from something.

 

[mandi]

Is there any real reason why Sub-Saharan Africans didn't build large multistory castle complexes like Himeji castle or Karlštejn Castle. Or large temples like the Aztecs or east Indians or somthing like angkor wat or The Umayyad Mosque. Did they not know how or didn't want to put in the effort and kept it simple or where they afraid of heights or of falling while building tall structures .Why didn't they further develope their architectural skills

 

[IdrisAlooma1570]

Is there any real reason why Sub-Saharan Africans didn't build large multistory castle complexes like Himeji castle or Karlštejn Castle. Or large temples like the Aztecs or east Indians or somthing like angkor wat or The Umayyad Mosque. Did they not know how or didn't want to put in the effort and kept it simple or where they afraid of heights or of falling while building tall structures .Why didn't they further develope their architectural skills

Who cares it doesn’t need to be a comparison game.

 

[PreColonialAfricaFTW]

Is there any real reason why Sub-Saharan Africans didn't build large multistory castle complexes like Himeji castle or Karlštejn Castle. Or large temples like the Aztecs or east Indians or somthing like angkor wat or The Umayyad Mosque. Did they not know how or didn't want to put in the effort and kept it simple or where they afraid of heights or of falling while building tall structures .Why didn't they further develope their architectural skills

This article mentions a stone citadel or castle built in Gao-ancien(which is an ancient settlement east of the Tomb of Askia in modern Gao). It may have already been mentioned already as this thread is simply colossal: https://www.researchgate.net/public...s_implications_for_the_history_of_West_Africa

Who cares it doesn’t need to be a comparison game.

I don't think this is a terribly conducive approach to take with someone just asking a question, although I can understand the fatigue questions like this can generate.