Municipal Museum of Archaeology Silves
Introduction
The Municipal Museum of Archaeology in Silves is located at Rua das Portas de Loulé. This museum displays the archaeological finds from the city and the region, and especially from the castle and the Cerro da Rocha Branca archaeological site. Some of the items on display are from pre-history, the Roman period, the Moorish period and the Portuguese period (through to the 17th century).
It was built on the site of a 19th century residence where the water reservoir from the Muslim period was discovered. Inisde the museum, a models shows the cistern and a tower in the city’s defensive wall. There are few items from the Umayyad period in Portugal and these objects date back to 8th-9th century. Some ceramic items on display are also from the Umayyad period in Gharb al-Andalus (old name of Portugal). A metal coin belongs to the Abd al-Rehamn I era in Portugal (8th-9th century).
History
It is not a great surprise to see that Silves held a great importance in the past, during the Muslim period. Due to its strategic hilltop location, it became a prominent town. With the increased importance, the town flourished in trade and agriculture. According to the 12th century Arab geographer Idrisi, it had a population of 30,000. Some of the objects are from the 10th century, this is when Abd al-Rehamn III declared himself a caliph. The 10th century was the height of the Muslim splendour in the Iberian Peninsula.
In the 11th century, the central power of Cordoba collapsed and region was divided up in many taifas. The taifas were an independent principalities ruled by the Muslims. The First Taifa period was in the 11th century and it covered Southern and Central Portugal. The Second Taifa period in Portugal was strong around Silves, Tavira and Mertola.
The Almoravids were Berbers from Morocco, who seized power in Portugal and Spain. This North African dynasty lasted for almost a century in the Iberian peninsula but then its decline gave way to new powers. Then arrived the Almohads, they ruled Portugal and Spain between 1121–1269.
The Almohads were also North African Berbers from Morocco. The started their influence in Morocco first then crossed into the Iberian Peninsula. After the defeat at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, the Almohads couldn’t resist the advancing Christian forces. One city after another started to fall in the Christian hands and Muslim power in Iberia declined forever. After the Muslim army’s defeat in 1212, the alliance of Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Portugal took more cities and even Seville in 1248.
Muslim Period Cistern
In the middle of the museum, a water reservoir can be seen, i dates back to the Almohad period. This well is made out of Silves sandstone it is around 20 meters in depth. There are stairs which lead to the bottom of the well but access wasn’t allowed. Inside the water well, there are three windows which provided access to water in the past.
One of the amazing things on display was photo which showed that a projectile was lodged into the spine of a Muslim defender in Silves. The skeleton of a defender, who died after getting hit by an arrow is on display inside the museum.
A marble piece on display is from 1227 and it was found at the eastern side of the Silves Medina. It refers the constructoin of the tower to Emir, son of Abu Yousef, son of Khalifa, Abu Muhammad abd al-Mumin. It was constructed during the month of Ramadan of the year 624 (Hijri, the Muslim calendar). A door at the upper level of the museum provides access to the roof, where one can see the city’s old wall. Apart from historical value, this museum also offers great views of the Silves city. Silves, a beauty of its own kind, a silent poem, written by its past inhabitants.
