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Moulay-
Idriss
 The
saintly town of Moulay Idriss strikes the visitors
arriving by road from Meknès (15 miles away)
as a white mass clinging to the top of Zerhoun
elevation, as if resisting to fall down into the
river Khomane. The Roman city of Volubilis is just
a stone's throw away. This proximity, as well as
the presence of a thermal structure (bamma) and of
Roman columns stems, have led some to incorrectly
believe that the town has a Roman origin. The
town's name came from (Moulay) Idriss 1, a
descendant of the prophet and founder of the first
Muslim dynasty in Morocco, who was buried on the
site. In the beginning, only a few houses
surrounded the tomb. Then, as seventeenth century
historians Leo Africanus and Marmol pointed out,
habitations and construction began to spring up
around the mosque and tomb in order to accommodate
and serve an increasing number of
pilgrims.
The mausoleum had a cupola
added in 1660 by Sidi Abdelkader, Ben Addou,
himself a descendant of the Saint. Every year a
month of religious celebrations is dedicated to the
memory of Idriss, descendant of the prophet and
founder of the first Muslim dynasty in the
country.
Africa Travel
Association
347
Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Sixth Cultural and Ecotourism Symposium Fez,
Morocco
December 8 through December 13, 2002
africatravelasso@aol.com
(212) 447-1926
Photo Credits: Morocco Office of Tourism
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