Have you noticed the intricate facade of this building? This is Dar al-Magana. Its name means “House of the Clock” in Arabic.
Dar al-Magana stands proudly on Tala’a Kebira street. It faces the Bou Inania Madrasa. Sultan Abu Inan Faris, a Marinid ruler, built both structures in the 14th century. He intended Dar al-Magana to serve the madrasa and its mosque.
The clock was completed on May 6, 1357. Al-Jazna’i was a historical chronicler. He noted this completion date. Abu al-Hassan ibn Ali Ahmed el-Tlemsani designed the clock. He was a muwaqqit. This means he was a timekeeper. The clock might have been inspired by an earlier water clock. Sultan Abu Said built that one for the Qarawiyyin Mosque.
Imagine this: Dar al-Magana once housed a complex water clock. It had twelve windows. Platforms held brass bowls. A small cart moved behind the doors. It was connected to ropes and weights. One weight floated on water. As the water drained, the cart moved. Each hour, a door opened and a metal ball dropped into a bowl.
The building’s facade is stunning. Carved stucco surrounds the windows. Sculpted arabesques and epigraphic motifs adorn the wooden rafters. These details showcase Marinid craftsmanship.
A popular legend claims Dar al-Magana was once the residence of Maimonides. He was a famous Jewish philosopher. Thus, the building is sometimes called the “House of Maimonides.”
Sadly, the clock stopped working generations ago. People forgot how it functioned. In 2004, the bowls were removed. ADER-Fes tried to repair the clock. But they were unsuccessful. However, the house’s structure and facade were restored in the early 2000s.
Though the clock is silent, Dar al-Magana still speaks. It tells a story of innovation and artistry. It links us to Fes’s golden age. Take a moment to appreciate this historical treasure. It reminds us of the ingenuity of the past.