Heri es-Swani (Arabic: هري السواني), literally means 'silo of the norias', is a historic monument in Meknes, Morocco. It was a massive structure that served as a granary for the Imperial Kasbah built by Moulay Isma'il (مولاي إسماعيل بن الشريف) during his reign from 1672 to 1727.
Heri es-Swani is a large compound of facilities which includes the attached House of the Ten Norias, which provided water for the palaces, and a large water basin nearby known as the Sahrij Swani or Agdal Basin.
These domed chambers each held a noria or mechanical hydraulic system which drew water from a deep well reaching down to the phreatic table, via a series of pails or buckets chained together and raised by a horse-drawn wheel.
A noria (Arabic: ناعورة) is a hydro powered scoop wheel used to lift water into a small aqueduct, either for the purpose of irrigation or to supply water to cities and villages.
There is a vast area of silos which are adjoined to the southwest side of the House of the Ten Norias. This structure is divided by 22 rows of thick arches between which are corridors that were originally roofed by vaults.
Moulay Isma'il became sultan upon the death of his brother Moulay Rashid ( مولاي الرشيد) in 1672. Breaking with tradition, he chose to make Meknes as his capital.
The third element of the complex is the vast water basin or artificial lake that stretches next to the main structure, the Sahrij Swani, also known as the Agdal Basin.
The nearly rectangular basin is 1.2 meters deep on average. Besides the water supply of the royal city, the basin was also used for leisure by palace residents who bathed here or wandered around on small boats.
