AP Art History - Islamic [Vocabulary]

Aniconism

avoidance of figural imagery

Arabesque

organic designs

Caliph

spiritual leader of Muslims

Calligraphy

artistic writing

Hajj

annual pilgrimage to Mecca

Iwan

type of entrance with a pointed arch

Jali

carved screen to allow light and air through

Kufic

formal Arabic writing style for holy text

Mecca

location of the Kaaba, direction of prayer; pilgrimage to this place is demanded

Medina

Mohammed’s birthplace

Mihrab

a niche in the wall that points to Mecca, highly decorated

Minaret

a tower to call for prayer, typically one of four around a mosque

Minbar

a small platform where an Islamic preacher leads prayer

Mosque

the Muslim place of worship

Muqarnas

decorative vaulting

Qibla

a wall in the direction of Mecca

Tessellation

symmetrically rotating geometric designs

Qur’an

the Islamic sacred text, meaning recitation

Mashq

the technique of elongating text for emphasis

Sura

a chapter (in a book)