The Mouchroutas (Greek: Μουχρουτᾶς) was an imperial palace erected in the tenth century in byzantine Constantinople.
Location
editThe building lay to the west of the Chrysotriklinos, [1] the main reception and ceremonial hall of the Great Palace of Constantinople from its construction, in the late 6th century, until the 10th century
Origin of the name
editThe name comes from the Arab word machrouta ("vault").[1] Some byzantine sources name it "turkish house" (Greek: Περσικὸς δὀμος, romanized: Persikos domos).[1]
History
editThe Mouchroutas was not mentioned by De Ceremoniis of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, so its construction was started after the 956-959.[1]
Architecture
editThe building was monumental, and according to the byzantine writer Niketas Choniates, "wonderful".[1] The monumental stair, adorned with serrations, was built using bricks, plaster and marble.[1] The roof was composed with domes and stalactite pendants, like the contemporary Cappella Palatina in Palermo.[1] The interior of the building, because of its richness of colors, was compared to a rainbow.[1] According to Choniates, the Mouchroutas was similar to the Seljuk monuments.[1]
Notes
editSources
edit- Janin, Raymond (1950). Constantinople Byzantine (in French) (1 ed.). Paris: Institut français d'etudes byzantines.