On the same day in 979 that Hisham II became Caliph of Córdoba, Muhammad ibn Abi Amir (Almazor), his most faithful servant, began the construction of Medina Alzahira, the ‘shining city’, a magnificent palace-city to the east of the city and on the right bank of the river.
For 20 years, while the Caliph lived locked up in Medina Azahara, the entire peninsula revolved around that small palatial villa. But power is a voracious monster and, more often than not, it ends up devouring oneself.
Thus, on February 15, 1009, the people of Córdoba, raised in arms, expelled the weak Caliph, invaded the city of the Amirids, looted its treasures, and vandalized it with infinite fury. Shortly after, in an attempt to ingratiate himself with the masses, the new caliph (Muhammad II) ordered it to be razed and burned completely, erasing it from memory.
The Glow that Never Goes Out Completely
Torres Balbas explained that the ruin of Alzahira was so complete that it left no echo of its name in local tradition or memory of the place it occupied. Historian Juan Quiles noted that the last historical mention of the ruins of the city is dated June 12, 1172.
It wasn’t until 1772, when a doctor and writer named Bartolomé Sánchez de Feria revived interest in the city by publishing a hypothesis about its location. This kickstarted an incessant search that has yet to yield fruit after more than two centuries.
Progressively, Professor Quiles explains that the settlement of the Resplendent City has been moving, as if in a spiral, from the center of the medina to its western end, later passing along the banks of the river and heading east toward the caliphal capital.
One Thing Beneath the Surface
Now, the University of Córdoba is convinced that the search may have reached a conclusion. Antonio Monterroso Checa, a UCO researcher, has recently found evidence near Alcolea in an area called Cabezos de Las Pendolillas, about 12 kilometers from the city’s Mosque. This discovery was made possible by reviewing over 120 hectares using LiDAR technology provided by the Mining Geographic Institute.
The notion makes sense; there aren’t many other buried structures compatible with architecture and urban fabric in that area with similar dimensions. However, as the authors themselves point out, identifying LiDAR-only structures is challenging without field verification, reminiscent of other hypotheses that have ultimately been dismissed.
A Fight Revealed
Opposition to these findings has emerged, particularly from proponents of alternative hypotheses such as those related to Arenal/Fuensanta. They argue that it is premature to place too much faith in LiDAR without substantial fieldwork. While they are correct in that the data gathered so far cannot definitively confirm the city’s existence underground, it is crucial to acknowledge that the UCO claims this is the only proposal among the twenty-two existing hypotheses that presents certain and verifiable physical data.
However, one should recognize that the stakes here are much higher than merely locating some ancient ruins. The discovery of such a site would inject vital resources and employment opportunities for the municipality and the wider area. This factor alone adds significant weight to the ongoing search.
Image | Sergio Guardiola Farrier