Symbolic meanings of decoration in algerian moorish architecture: a comparative study of the al-mechouar palace in the context of the alhambra palace

The Greater Maghreb, as a geographical intersection of Africa, the East, and the West, was profoundly shaped by the successive reigns of Berber dynasties from the Middle Ages to the modern era. leaving a significant mark on the history of Algeria. The Rustamids, Fatimids, Zirids, Hammadids, Almoravids, Almohads, Marinids, and Ziyanids among the most influential of these dynasties each contributed to the formation of an architectural identity rooted in local traditions, while also enriched by influences from the East and al-Andalus. This historical wealth gave rise to a unique and authentic architectural art, marked by stylistic diversity and mastery of ornamental design. This Moorish heritage in Algeria is strongly expressed not only in monumental structures but also in the decorative details of architecture. Geometric, vegetal, and calligraphic motifs, intricately carved into stone, plaster, wood, and ceramics, go beyond mere aesthetics; they embody a complex symbolic language with sacred, political, and cosmological meanings. These codified and systematized typologies of ornamentation reflect a worldview in which aesthetics and spirituality are deeply intertwined.