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The Real Moors

After centuries of deception and whitewash, the term, "Moor" has been made synonymous with "Arab," "Berber" and "Muslim."

A simple way of determining the true meaning of the word, "Moor" is by tracing its root word to the Greek word, "mauros" which means "charred or blackened." Similarly, the modern Greek word, "mavros" as well as the Latin word "maurus" means "black." From these words, we get "Mauretania" the Greek word for the entire continent of Africa--"The land of the Black people." From this word, we get St. Maurice, who was usually depicted by medieval European artists as a black African. The term still relates to Morocco and Mauritania, where medieval western Europeans believed to be home to a great West African Moorish civilization.

That's right, "Moor" has always been synonymous with "Black African" until recent decades. The real Moors, or Black Africans, lived not only in Africa, but in Europe as well. In fact, their appearance in Europe preceded Columbus' first voyage to the new world by several centuries. This is evidenced by the countless representations of Moors in European paintings and literature--living, working, and contributing to society. Their contributions to European society must have been great indeed. Why else would we see black faces adorning some of the most beautiful structures in some of the most important cities in Europe?

Read More:

1. Moorish Spain

2. Black Knights

3. Moor's Heads

4. Black Magi

5. The Renaissance






Statue of St. Maurice in the Cathedral of Magdeburg, Germany, (1240 AD)