The mention of looted columns reminded me of the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Its famous double tiered arcades were purely pragmatic height creating compromise as a result of the local Roman and Visigothic columns not being tall enough for the large interior space.
At least, that was the case when the mosque was built in the 8th century. When the mosque was expanded [0] on several occasions over the next few centuries they made sure to commission new copies of the columns. Why? So they could build double arcades just like Abd al-Rahman I. A pragmatic solution copied not out of pragmatism, but in order to claim legitimacy through aesthetic continuation (much like every neoclassical building ever).
[0] Friday mosques traditionally have to have enough capacity to contain the entire Muslim population for the Friday prayer, so as the city grows so must the mosque.
At least, that was the case when the mosque was built in the 8th century. When the mosque was expanded [0] on several occasions over the next few centuries they made sure to commission new copies of the columns. Why? So they could build double arcades just like Abd al-Rahman I. A pragmatic solution copied not out of pragmatism, but in order to claim legitimacy through aesthetic continuation (much like every neoclassical building ever).
[0] Friday mosques traditionally have to have enough capacity to contain the entire Muslim population for the Friday prayer, so as the city grows so must the mosque.