The Saadian Tombs: Marrakech's Hidden Mausoleum

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Saadian Tombs of Marrakech, a stunning 16th-century mausoleum that lay sealed and forgotten for over two centuries. Built by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur al-Dhahabi to honor his dynasty, the tombs feature intricate stucco, carved cedar, and Italian marble. After the Alaouite dynasty took power, they walled up the site to prevent veneration of their predecessors, only for it to be rediscovered by aerial photography in 1917. The conversation delves into the politics of memory, the craftsmanship of Saadian architecture, and the irony of preservation through deliberate neglect. Lucas explains the layout of the Hall of Twelve Pillars, the role of the qadi Ayyub ibn Abdallah al-Hawwari in the construction, and how the tombs survived centuries of disuse. Luna asks about the Alaouite motives and the impact of the 1917 discovery on Moroccan heritage. The episode ties the tombs' hidden history to the broader theme of how dynasties reshape the past to legitimize their rule.

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