Functions of spolia in Umayyad architecture

Abstract

with the military context and functioned in expressions such as “spoils of war”. In the area of art history, however, spolia are architectonic elements, both constructive and decorative, which were reused in architectonic context which differed from their original purpose.^ In the area of early Chris­ tian, Byzantine and early Medieval art history, the issue of spolia seems to have been considered by scholars as highly intriguing. Some different interpretations of the use of spolia were discussed; not only the pragmatical or economical, but also the aesthetic, symbolic and ideological aspects of this issue were covered.* 3 4 5 The problem of the lack of sources concerning the original theory of reusing architectural elements was also stressed.3 On the contrary, the historians of early Islamic art paid little attention to this problem. Spolia are usually only mentioned in monographic publications and are not the subjects of any deeper investiga­ tion.3 An interesting exception is a study of the Great Mosque of Damascus by Finbarr Barry Flood, in which the scholar conducted a brief but multifaceted analysis of the marble columns that had been reused in the building.3 In this