Harar Jugol — Fortified Historic Town
ሐረር · Harar · Jegol · City of Saints
Medieval Islamic (10th–19th c)·Harari / Adal Sultanate / Oromo·🇪🇹 Harari Region, Ethiopia
About
About Harar Jugol — Fortified Historic Town
Harar Jugol is the 48 ha fortified historic town of Harar, Ethiopia, enclosed by 16th-century 3.3 km limestone walls (Jugol) with 5 gates, considered the fourth holiest city of Islam with 110 mosques (3 from 10th c) and 102 shrines. Inside, 368 alleyways lace 16th c Harari houses, 16th c Grand Jami Mosque, and 19th c Rimbaud House. Late enclave of Harari, Oromo, Somali, Arab traders on Harar–Berbera–Zeila caravan. Inscribed 2006 UNESCO criteria ii, iii, iv, v. Living population 25,000 Harari maintain narrow lanes and hyena feeding tradition.
Why it mattersMost intact Islamic walled city in sub-Saharan Africa; continuous Harari urban tradition 800 years.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Original wall extent pre-13th c
- 02Ethnic layering of mosques — Harari vs Arab foundations
Theories
- 01Harar as inland node of Islamic diffusion to Horn (Insoll)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 10th c (founded), Jugol walls 13th–16th c, peak 16th c Adal Sultanate
- Period
- Medieval Islamic (10th–19th c)
- Culture
- Harari / Adal Sultanate / Oromo
- Builders
- Harari emirs — Amir Ali ibn Dawud walled 1567
- Purpose
- Islamic holy city, caravanserai hub, Harari cultural enclave and Adal capital
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.800 CE
Early mosque foundations
1567
Jugol wall completed by Amir Nur
2006
UNESCO inscription 1189
On the ground
Structures & features
9.3090° N · 42.1380° E · 1850 m · 3 mapped features
Jugol Wall & Five Gates
fortification3.3 km limestone wall with Argobberi, Suq, Asmai, Erer, Senga gates and hyena feeding portals
9.3100° N · 42.1390° EGrand Jami Mosque of Harar
mosque10th c (rebuilt 16th c) congregational mosque 30×20 m with twin minarets and coral mihrab
9.3085° N · 42.1385° EHarari House Cluster (Gecha House)
domesticTraditional Harari house with 3-level wooden verandas, textile niches and indigo courtyard
9.3095° N · 42.1370° E