Islamic art definitions ap art history

arabesque

a flowing, intricate, and symmetrical pattern deriving from floral motifs

calligraphy

a decorative or beautiful handwriting

charbagh

a rectangular garden in the Persian tradition that is based on the four gardens of paradise mentioned in the Qur’an

Haji

an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that is required of devout Muslims as one of the five pillars of Islam

illuminated manuscript

A manuscript that is hand-decorated with painted initials, marginal illustrations, and larger images that add a pictorial element to the written text

Iwan

a rectangular vaulted space in a Muslim building that is walled on three sides and open on the fourth

Jail

perforated ornamental stone screens in Islamic art

kufic

a highly ornamental Islamic script

mausoleum

a building, usually large, that contains tombs

mecca, medina

Islamic holy cities

Mecca

birthplace of Muhammad and the city of all Muslims turn to in prayer

Medina

Is where Muhammad was first accepted as the prophet, and where his tomb is located

mihrab

a central niche in a mosque, which indicates the direction to Mecca

minaret

a tall, slender column used to call people to prayer

Minbar

a pulpit from which sermons are given

mosque

a Muslim house of worship

muezzin

An Islamic official who calls people to prayer traditionally from a minaret

Muhammad

the prophet whose revelations and teachings form the foundation of Islam

muqarna

a honeycomb-like decoration often applied in islamic buildings to domes, niches, capitals, or vaults. The surface resembled intricate stalactites

pyxis

a small cylinder-shaped container with detachable lid used to contain jewelry or cosmetics

Qibla

the direction toward mecca which Muslims face in prayer

Qur’an

The Islamic sacred text, dictated to the prophet Muhammed by angel Gabriel

Sahn

a courtyard in Islamic architecture

Shahnama/ The book of Kings

a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Firdawsi between 977 and 1010 ce, the national epic of Iran

Tessellation

decoration using polygonal shapes with no gaps

voussoir

A wedge-shaped stone that forms the curved part of an arch; the central voussoir is called a keystone