REL 262 Exam 3 Art and Architecture Terms

Kufic

oldest

linear, horizontal, angular

maghribi

western

North Africa, Spain, etc

thinner, big loops (bowls)

thuluth

used for inscriptions and titles

verticals, letters pierce each other, not perfectly straight, bold

naskh

smaller, neat, and compact

most commonly used today

calligraphy

“beautiful” “writing”

art form that gives geometry of the spirit

breaks down distinction between written and spoken

takes written word and transforms it into performance

viewing the word is an occasion for a sacramental experience

“geometry of the spirit”

shahada - unity and oneness of god (tawhid)

geometric designs are basis of islamic art

aniconic

no images in animal, human, or divine form

arabesque

floral designs

decoration vs ornament

serves to express the inexpressible, manifest the unmanifest, make the visible invisible

does it abstractly, without representation

testify to experience and enable us to see the presence of god

the point

geometric equivalent of tawhid

divine tawhid: unity of the point

lacks extension, area, volume

creates something outside of itself; something finite we can know

“calligraphy is music for the eyes”

distinction between written and oral language disappear

“writing is the tongue of the hand”

distinction between oral and written language disappear

hypostyle

having many rows of closely spaced columns

4-iwan

large barrel vaulted chamber with a monumental arched opening

central-plan

dome in center

masjid

“a place of prostration”

small, local place of worship

jama’a

“congregation”

main mosque in a city

salat al jama’a

“congregational prayer”

minaret

tower whence the call to prayer is made

minbar

elevated pulpit whence a sermon is delivered during mid-day prayer of Friday

mihrab

a niche in an interior wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca

qibla

the direction of Mecca

qibla wall

the wall on which the mihrab is located

ablution fountain

where worshippers ritually purify themselves (wudu)

sahn

courtyard

riwaq

arcade surrounding courtyard

dikka

platform elevated with columns

kursi

a stand to hold the Qur’an

horseshoe arch

type of arch that comes in at bottom

pointed arch

art that comes together in a point on top

muqarna

a decorative squinch

“honeycomb” or “stalactite” vaulting

doesn’t support, merely decorative

kulliye

a group of buildings around a mosque

madrasas, hospitals, etc.

Sinan

architect

built selimiye mosque