Clock moves in reverse on Tunisia’s Great Mosque

STORY: This clock on Tunisia’s Great Mosque runs backwards (orange highlight 'backwards’)

Location: Testour, Tunisia

The mosque was built in the 17th century

and is among the area’s most important tourist attractions

(Nouri Feryani, Testour resident)

“Any visitor to the city of Testour is stopped by the architectural nature of this mosque, which is of an Andalusian architectural style. One of its most important features is the minaret clock, which might be one-of-a-kind in the world. It was restored 8 years ago, and its hands rotate in the opposite direction of a regular clock."

Residents describe the backwards clock as a symbol of the city

Many believe it stands as a symbol of coexistence

(Rachid Soussi, President of the city protection association)

“The minaret of the Great Mosque of Testour has what represents the three religions, Islam of course, the Star of David that we know, as well as the Christian holy trinity, present in the form of three spheres, and these three represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The symbols of the three religions indicate without any doubt the tolerance that existed between the various inhabitants present in the city”.