APAH - Islamic Art (16)

Muqarnas

- a honeycomb-like decoration often applied in Islamic buildings to domes, niches, capitals, or vaults; surface resembles intricate stalactites

Mosque

- a Muslim house of worship

Pyxis

- a small cylinder-shaped container w/ a detachable lid used for cosmetics/jewelry/aromatics

Qibla

- the direction toward Mecca (opposite the entrance), which Muslims face in prayer

Calligraphy

- decorative/beautiful handwriting

Minaret

- a tall, slender column used to call people to prayer

Tawaf

- pilgrims circumambulate 7 times counterclockwise; symbol of unity between believers

Arabesque

- a flowing, intricate, & symmetrical pattern deriving from floral motifs; mosaic patterns

Muhammad (570?-632)

- Prophet whose revelations/teachings from the foundation of Islam; not divine

Iwan

- a rectangular vaulted space in a Muslim building that is walled on 3 sides & open on the 4th

Qur'an

- Islamic sacred text, dictated to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel

Mausoleum

- a chamber that holds tombs

Kufic

- a highly ornamental Islamic script

Mihrab

- a niche in the qibla wall of a mosque

Mecca & Medina

- Islamic holy cities; Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad & the city all Muslims turn to for prayer; Medina is where Muhammad was 1st accepted as a Prophet, & where his tomb is located

Hajj

- an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that is required of devout Muslims as 1 of the 5 pillars of Islam