Journal / Information

Materials & design

Saadian Craft: Marble,Plaster, and Cedar atSaadian Tombs

How marble, carved plaster and cedar bring the mausoleums’ architecture into focus.

Historic Saadian architecture and natural light

Materials that shape the monument

Marble columns, carved plaster and cedar ceilings set the rhythm of a view into the Saadian mausoleums. Their changing texture gives each surface a different relationship with light.

Look at the contrasts

Notice the contrast between a smooth marble column and the intricate plasterwork around it. Light and shadow reveal details differently as you shift your viewpoint within the permitted visitor areas.

Geometric zellij tilework at the Saadian Tombs

Read next

The historic mausoleums of the Saadian TombsMonument guide

What to see at
Saadian Tombs

Carved plasterworkHistory & heritage

The story
of the tombs

Photography credits

Displayed crops and responsive resizing; colours and content unchanged. Image adaptations retain their original image licence.