Ksar

In today's world, Ksar has become a topic of increasing interest to people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether due to its impact on society, its historical relevance or its influence on popular culture, Ksar has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. In this article, we will explore the importance of Ksar in depth, analyzing its evolution over time and examining its impact on different aspects of everyday life. From its emergence to its current relevance, Ksar has much to offer in terms of reflection and understanding of the world around us.

For the town and commune in Mauritania, see Ksar, Mauritania. For the racehorse, see Ksar (horse).
"Qsar" redirects here. For the QSAR models, see Quantitative structure–activity relationship.
For the television and radio stations that used the callsign KSAR from 1953 to 1972, see Ryukyu Broadcasting Corporation.
Ksar Aït Benhaddou, Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987

Ksar or qṣar (Arabic: قصر, romanized: qṣar), in plural ksour or qsour (Arabic: قصور, romanized: qṣur), is a type of fortified village in North Africa, usually found in the regions predominantly or traditionally inhabited by Berbers (Amazigh).[1][2] The equivalent Berber term used is ighrem (singular) or igherman (plural).[1]

Etymology

The Arabic qaṣr (قَصَر) was probably borrowed from the Latin word castrum.[3][1]

Architecture

Ruins of the ksar at Timimoun, Algeria
Ksar Chenini, an abandoned ksar in southern Tunisia[4]

Ksour in the Maghreb typically consist of attached houses, often having a fortified communal granary like those in Algeria, or the ghorfa and agadir types known in Tunisia and Morocco respectively, beside other structures like a mosque, hammam, oven, and shops. Ksur or igherman are widespread among the oasis populations of North Africa. Ksars are sometimes situated in mountain locations to make defense easier; they often are entirely within a single, continuous wall. The building material of the entire structure usually is adobe, or cut stone and adobe. The idea of the ksar as a granary is a confused notion of two things: the granary itself, found within a ksar, and the ksar, a village, typically with granaries within it. Ksars form one of the main manifestations of Berber architecture.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Van Staëvel, J.-P. (2004). "Ḳaṣr". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E. & Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume XII: Supplement. Leiden: E. J. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-13974-9.
  2. ^ Golvin, Lucien (1989). "Architecture berbère". Encyclopédie berbère. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ Wehr, Hans; Cowan, J. M. A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Third ed.). Ithaca, N.Y.: Spoken Language Services. p. 768.
  4. ^ Binous, Jamila; Baklouti, Naceur; Ben Tanfous, Aziza; Bouteraa, Kadri; Rammah, Mourad; Zouari, Ali (2010). "X.6 Chénini (of Tataouine)". Ifriqiya: Thirteen Centuries of Art and Architecture in Tunisia. Islamic Art in the Mediterranean (2nd ed.). Museum With No Frontiers & Ministry of Culture, the National Institute of Heritage, Tunis. p. 269. ISBN 9783902782199.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ksour.
  • www.ksour-tunisiens.com – complete documentation of all ksour of southern Tunisia, Herbert Popp & Abdelfettah Kassah