Atiq Mosque of Awjila

The Atiq mosque at Awjila oasis is built of mud brick with a roof of conical domes carried on squat piers, each dome pierced at the apex to let in light and let out heat, and the form is peculiar to this part of the Sahara. It is generally described as one of the oldest mosques in the region, traced back in local tradition to the seventh century though the standing fabric is later. Awjila is an Amazigh oasis with its own language.

History

Arab Muslims under Abdullah ibn Sa'ad ibn Abi as-Sarh took the region, and his tomb was set up at Awjila around 650; the chronicler al-Bakri says there were already several mosques around the oasis by the 11th century. The present mosque dates from the 12th century and was restored in the 1980s (Wikipedia, Atiq Mosque, Awjila).

Highlights

• The conical domes - the mud-brick roof pierced at each apex for light and air.
• The squat piers - the internal supports carrying the dome field.
• The mud-brick construction - the whole building made of earth.
• The oasis - the Amazigh settlement with its own language in the eastern desert.

When to go

November to March is the workable season. Summer heat in the eastern desert is extreme. Visits should avoid prayer times.

What to expect

The mosque is in use and access depends on prayer times and permission. Mud brick requires constant maintenance and repairs have not always matched the original. Travel in Libya requires arrangements through a licensed operator.

Nearby

Ajdabiya is northwest, and Jalu is a short distance away.

Key facts