CECILIA CLARK P HOTOGRAPHY

The Great Mosque of Samarra and the Malwiya Tower (851 CE) Leaving Baghdad for the last time, we drove north through areas once occupied by Daesh (ISIS) to the ancient city of Samarra. At first sight, the most interesting feature is the 1,000 year old spiral minaret and the walls of walls of the ancient mosque. The mosque and tower were completed in 851 CE. Shortly after the founder was assassinated in 861, the court abandoned the area and fled to Baghdad. The Great Mosque w