HOA revised

Iwan

Open-fronted porch facing a court.

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun

The mosque retains its original character despite several restorations. It is built in brick but is faced with stucco in which friezes are incised. The mixture of several forms of ornamental detailing found separately at Samara suggests not only that the mosque wasessentially an Iraqi building, but that it was built by craftsmen from theAbbasid capital who had arrived in Egypt only a relatively short time before.

The Great Mosque of Malwiya, Samarra

although started by his predecessor, it is regarded as the work of the Caliph Al-Mutawakkil, who also built the nearby mosque of Abu Dulaf. The mosque consisted of an immense walled courtyard planned on a ratio of three to two, 155 m × 238 m (510ft × 780 ft), surrounded by four aisles except on the south side where nine aisles form the prayer chamber. The internal structure of mud-brick piers and timber pole-joisted roofs has long since disappeared, but the massive brick outer walls remain, buttressed at intervals of 16m (52ft) by half-round towers.

Madrassa of Qaitbay

The ultimate achievement of architectural development in Cairo with a unique slender minaret and deeply carved dome decorations.

Minaret

Tower from which a call to prayer is made.

Gur-i Amir, Samarkand

The building was unfinished when Timur died, to be buried in the tomb which dominates the funerary complex. The group includes a tomb, a madrassa, and a caravanserai. A high-rising, bulbous dome surmounts an abnormally high drum said to have been rebuilt to satisfy an emperor with a passion for impressive height. The wall surfaces faced in ceramics and marbles and the vault itself in gold and blue patterned inlay are magical and complete.

The Dome of the Rock

A building central and crucial to the whole history of the architecture of Islam stands in the center of the Temple Mount. It began in 688 and the Prophet's Mosque and the Kaaba are among the most important Muslim shrines.

Islam

The second-largest religion in the world, meaning submission to the will of Allah.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman Mosque development. It incorporates some ByzantineChristian elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is the last great mosque of the classical period. The architect, Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, synthesized the ideas of his master Sinan, aiming for overwhelming size, majesty, and splendor.

Caliph

The successor to the prophet and a military, judicial, or spiritual leader of Islam.

Great Mosque of Seville

The Patio Naranjos and Giralda Tower are the only remains of the former mosque. The mosque was converted for Christian worship and was used from 1248 to 1401 before it was torn down for the current cathedral to be built.

Riwaq

A colonnade or arcade in a typical mosque.

Tomb of Ismael the Samanid, Bokhara

The tomb is a relatively small domed mausoleum, constructed in elaborately decorated brickwork within and without

Ghurid Minaret, Jam

A well-preserved isolated minaret in Afghanistan, decorated with calligraphic relief.

Great Mosque of Mecca

The mosque housing the Kaaba, the center of Islamic faith.

The Minaret of Samarra

The mosque's minaret or place from where prayer is called--is a conical tower with a spiral ramp. Its shape is heavily influenced by a certain kind of Mesopotamian ziggurat. One of the most famous minarets, it is 52 meters tall and 33 meters wide.

Calligraphy

Like other Islamic decorations, is closely tied to geometry. All the letter proportions are mathematically determined. Inscriptions are commonly utilized as a frame along and around major architectural elements such as gateways and cornices. The Islamic emphasis on repetition, balance, symmetry, and pattern formation is exemplified by these designs. Combined with optical effects such as balancing positive and negative areas, as well as sophisticated use of color and tonal values.

Muezzin

The caller who summons the faithful to prayer.

Giralda Tower

A 104.1-meter tall minaret of a mosque from the Almohad rule period.

Paradise Garden

These spaces provide respite during summers to the people. It displays water features like large marble fountains and ponds adorned with lotuses and lilies. These

Mihrab

An architectural niche oriented towards Mecca.

Kiblah

The axis oriented towards Mecca.

The Great Mosque, Qairouan

The building has slightly pointed horseshoe arches carried on capitals of Corinthian derivation. The gored dome is carried on cusped squinches. An important precedent was set in the the prayer-chamber which has a T-shaped plan

Minbar

A raised platform for ceremonial announcements in a mosque.

Muqarnas

3D sculptural ornamentations resembling stalactites found in Islamic architecture.

Kalyan Minaret

A significant survivor from the Kara-khanid era built in 1127.

The Dome of the Chain

It covers the summit of Mount Moriah “Furthest Sanctuary” from which the Prophet is believed to have been carried on a night-ride to heaven to receive fundamental revelations. Its high timber dome was carried on a stone arcade of pointed arches on Corinthian columns alternating with marble-faced piers. Surrounding arcaded aisles are set out on an octagonal plan. From the outset, the interior was richly finished in glass mosaic and quartered marble.

Imam

The man who leads the congregation in prayer.

Sober and Dignified

Describing certain characteristics of Islamic architecture.

Sahn

Cloistered or arcaded courtyard in a mosque.

Suleymaniye Mosque

White calligraphic inscriptions on blue grounds are surrounded by intricate borders, and the great, glowing windows of colored glass are carried in fgrilles of carved stucco typical of Ottoman work.

Fawwara

A fountain placed in courtyards for ritual washing before prayers.

Jali

A decorative screen used in Islamic architecture for light control.

Liwan

The prayer hall in a mosque.

Mosque of Selim II

The complex is huge and measures 190 x130 meters and is composed of a mosque, two symmetrical square madrasas, and there was a row of shops and a school for learning the recitation of the Quran located to the west and added during the reign of Sultan Murad III. The mosque's nearly square prayer hall is approached through a porticoed courtyard, making the central block of the complex rectangular. The approach to the northfaçade of the mosque is dramatic: the aligned gates of the outer precinct wall and forecourt focus the eye upwards toward the dome, which could also be seen from a distance.

Arabesque

Floral motifs used in Islamic designs showcasing balance and repetition.

Great Mosque of Córdoba

Islamic mosque in Spain, which was converted into a Christian cathedral in the 13th century. The original structure was built by the Umayyad ruler ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān I in 784–786 with extensions in the 9th and 10th centuries that doubled its size, ultimately making it one of the largest sacred buildings in the Islamic world. The ground plan of the completed building forms a vast rectangle measuring 590 by425 feet (180 by 130 meters), or little less than St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Dikka

Reading desk in a typical mosque.

The Great Mosque of Damascus

Were the extant towers of the Great Temple which became the mosque.

It was traditional and symbolic in the early years of Islam that the principal church of a city which had resisted the Muslims should be taken over as the congregational mosque.

Alhambra

A distinct among Medieval palaces for its sophisticated planning, complex decorative programs, and its many enchanting gardens and fountains.

Dome

A primary element of Islamic architecture influenced by Byzantine models.

Maqsura

A wooden screen designed to protect worshippers.

Great Mosque of Esfahan

A complex of buildings that centers on the 11th-century domed sanctuary and includes a second smaller domed chamber, built-in 1088, known for its beauty of proportion and design. The central sanctuary was built under the direction of Niẓām al-Mulk, vizier to the Seljuq ruler Malik-Shāh, probably between 1070 and 1075. It stands at the south end of the courtyard. Its large brick dome is supported by 12 heavy piers.

Geometric pattern

Commonly used in Islamic art emphasizing symmetry and balance.

Mosque

Any place of worship in Islam, often multifunctional.

The Mosque of the Prophet

The courtyard of the Muhammad in Medina, Arabian Peninsula, was the model for later Islamic architecture. The home of Muhammad and his family was a simple structure, made of raw brick, which opened on an enclosed courtyard where people gathered to hear him. In 624 Muhammad decreed that prayer be directed toward Mecca.

Jami Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri

Built by Akbar in A.D. 1571. It covers a rectangular area measuring 542ft X 438ft, with a large courtyard, originally entered by gateways on the north, south, and east. Of these, only the eastern orKing’s Gateway has remained unaltered by subsequent additions. It is one of the largest mosques in the country. The mosque follows the conventional plan form with a central courtyard surrounded by cloisters on 3 sides and the sanctuary on the western side. The sanctuary façade consists of a large rectangular front in the center containing a spacious alcove, with a pillared arcade on each side to form the

Meenakshi Temple

Most famous Hindu temples in Madurai dedicated to Goddess Parvati

Shikhara

The spire or tower over a Hindu temple.

Nagara

A style of temple architecture prominent in northern India.

Virupaksha Temple

An active worship Hindu shrine, notable for its east-facing entrance tower. The oldest Hindu shrine within the imperial site and still in active worship today, which predated Vijayanagara rule but was enlarged

Hoysaleswara Temple

It is a Shiva traditional temple situated in Halebidu or Dwarasamudra in Karnataka and literally known as Halebidu temple. The temple was built by King Vishnuvardhan of the Hoysala Empire in 1121 AD and made of soapstone. The twin temples have two shrines dedicated to representing the masculine and feminine form of Shiva with lingam. The design and decoration of the temple were made by famous architect Kedoraja.

Medhi

Upper passage in a stupa.

Sidi Sayyid Masjid

known for its intricately designed perforated stone screens. One of the subjects shown in the tracery is the 'palm-and-parasite' motif.

Jagati

Is a term used to refer to a raised surface, platform, or terrace upon which the typical Hindu temple is placed?

Taj Mahal

A monument Mausoleum complex in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned1628–58) to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), who died in childbirth in 1631, having been the emperor’s inseparable companion since their marriage in 1612. In its harmonious proportions and its fluid incorporation of decorative elements, it is distinguished as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Other attractions include twin mosque buildings (placed symmetrically on either side of the mausoleum), lovely gardens, and a museum.

Lakshmana Temple

The central deity at this temple is an image of Vishnu in his three-headed form known as Vaikuntha

Akbar’s Tomb

Built The scheme of the mausoleum is on a grand scale, its perimeter walls enclosing a large square garden, while the tomb structure situated in the center of the enclosure is a square in the plan of 320 ft side and over 100 ft high. In the middle of each side of the enclosure is a gatehouse, three of which are false doorways added for symmetry and the southern being the main entrance. The main gateway is a minor monument, with pleasing proportions and bold inlaid ornamentation along with 4 graceful white marble minarets, one above each corner.

Alai Darwaza

The main gateway of the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi.

Pietra Dura

Muslims under religious injunction avoided the use of human figurines rather they opted for geometrical patterns (arabesque), floral patterns, inscriptions in various styles, inlay on marble also calleda,

Mandapa

Is a term to refer to a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals.

Karli, Maharashtra

Pinnacle of Hinayana Chaitya construction measuring 124ft by 46.5ft by 45ft. At the front is simha stambha, a 50 ft tall free-standing pillar on both sides of the façade, detached to evoke reverence Each stands on a wide rock cylinder base, 16 sides shaft, fluted abacus, above the capital, and a harmika pedestal. Behind is a vestibule, front made of the rock-cut screen with triple entrance and clerestory.

Chaitya

Buddhist prayer halls with stupas at one end.

Vihara

Residential areas for Buddhist monks, often featuring ornate decorations.

Humayun’s Tomb

A significant tomb design influencing later architecture, like the Taj Mahal.

Harmika

The square railing that encircles a stupa's pedestal.

Provincial Style

A combination of regional architectural styles with Muslim influences.

Taj Mahal

Famous for its reflective white marble structure with intricate carvings.

Gol Gumbaz

The mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah. It is one of the largest single chambers ever built. Externally, the building is a great cube with a turret or tower attached to each angle, with a large hemispherical dome covering the whole. The effect of the building is derived from the fine proportions between its various elements, especially between the cubical part below and the domed part above.

Agra Fort

A military fortress and royal residence established by Akbar.

Jama Masjid, Mandu

Built Started by Hushang Shah and finished by Mahmud I in A.D. 1440. The mosque covers a square of 288 ft side, prolonged on the eastern front by another 100 ft by a projecting domed entrance hall and a wide flight of steps. There are also two subsidiary entrances to the north, one for the priests and the other a private entrance for the zenana. Being raised on a high plinth enables the front side of the basement to contain a series of arcaded chambers to be used as a serai

Anda

The spherical dome symbolized the infinite space of the sky in a stupa.

Sun Temple at Modhera

The temple which dates to the early eleventh century, and was built by Raja Bhimdev I of the Solanki Dynasty in 1026is an example of the Nagara style of the temple in this region. The influence of the woodcarving tradition of Gujarat is evident in this temple. Pillars that recount the ancient stories, scenes from Mahabharata and Ramayan (epic Hindu literature) are intricately carved, raised, and erected on the large platform; the temple appears majestic with its grand structure. This mesmerizing work of art is another example of man-made magnificence which amuses people from all over the world.

Antarala

An antechamber in temples between garbhagriha and mandapa.

Lomas Rishi Cave

One of the man-made Barabar Caves. Was carved out as a sanctuary

Brihadeshwara Temple

Early granite temple known for its towering vimana.

Kandariya Mahadev Temple

It is estimated that this temple has about 870sculptures, with a one-meter height each. The entrance has a staircase and porch that is adorned with garlands chiseled out of a single stone.

Bedsa

Measured 45.5ft by 21 ft, with an exterior consisting of two rock-cut columns between pilasters acting as vestibule to the screen. It has a vase-shaped base- an octagonal shaft and carved capitals. The Pillars support the main beam of the roof

Stambha

the free-standing monolithic columns erected over sites selected because of their sacred associations. They were stone objects.

Sopana

Stairs in a stupa leading to the dome.

Taj Mahal

Mausoleum complex in Agra, western Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned1628–58) to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”), who died in childbirth in 1631, having been the emperor’s inseparable companion since their marriage in 1612. In its harmonious proportions and its fluid incorporation of decorative elements, it is distinguished as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. Other attractions include twin mosque buildings (placed symmetrically on either side of the mausoleum), lovely gardens, and a museum.

Vesara

Temple architecture style combining Nagara and Dravidian influences.

Garbhagriha

Sanctum of a Hindu temple housing the deity's idol.

Mughal Style

Hybrid architectural style blending Indo-Islamic and Persian features.

Chatra

Triple umbrella crowning a stupa.

Taj Mahal

Resting in the middle of a wide plinth 23 feet(7 meters) high, the mausoleum proper is of white marble that reflects hues according to the intensity of sunlight or moonlight. It has four nearly identical facades, each with a wide central arch rising to 108 feet (33 meters)at its apex and chamfered (slanted) corners incorporating smaller arches. The majestic central dome, which reaches a height of 240 feet (73 meters) at the tip of its finial, is surrounded by four lesser domes. The acoustics inside the main dome causes the single note of a flute to reverberate five times.

Vedika

Enclosure railing around a stupa.

Kondane Caves

Same as Bhaja, except archway, which is part of the stone that measures 66ft by 26.5ft by 28ft. It has an archway more finished and curved with a central pillared hall. It has 23 by 29 columns in colonnades, with cells on three sides.

Stupa

Dome-shaped structure housing sacred relics in Buddhism.

Dravida

Architectural style developed in Southern India by the Pallavas.

Gopuram

The huge tower at the entrance of a temple. It serves as the gateway to the temple complex. It is one of the most prominent things in a temple.

Imperial Style

Early Indo-Islamic architecture blending with local styles.

The Great Stupa, Sanchi

An ancient monument built by Emperor Ashoka, depicting historical significance.

Torana

Gateway structure in a stupa.

Annamalaiyar Temple

The breathtaking temple complex is dedicated to Shiva. There are numerous intricately adorned shrines and halls within the entire temple complex which is also considered as one of the largest temple complexes in India. Do make it a point to see the splendid eastern gopuram(tower), which is one the tallest temple towers in India as it stands 66 meters tall, and the gorgeous thousand-pillared hall that extends serenely in the temple complex.

Famen Temple Pagoda

The Pagoda is also known as "the Real Spirit Pagoda", is famous for the fact that it houses a finger bone of Sakyamuni, and the Temple and its stupa enjoyed the reputation of being the "forefather of pafshikgodas and temples in Central Shaanxi". It’s a brick octagon pagoda of 13 stories, 47 meters in height.

Huanqiu Altar, Temple of Heaven

Also known as the Circular Mound Altar, is an empty circular platform with three levels of marble stones. Vivid dragons were carved on the stones to stand for the emperors. The number nine stands for power as well as the emperors in ancient China. Balusters and steps are either the sacred number nine or its multiples. In ancient times, the emperors burn offerings for Heaven on a stove on the platform

Gate of Heavenly Purity

Also named Qianqingmen, the gate is on the central axis divides the Forbidden City into two parts, the Outer Court, and the Inner Court, therefore, serving as the main entrance to the imperial household. It was established in 1420 and rebuilt in 1655. Five bays wide, three bays deep and sixteen meters high, it is a structure with a single-eave roof, resting on the 1.5-meter-high white marble base of Buddhist-style building surrounded by carved stone balustrades.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The Pagoda of the attic-styled square pagoda of brick imitating wood structure consists of the base, the body, and the finial. The whole pagoda is about 65m high with the height of the base being 4.2m and the finial being 4.87m

Tower of Buddhist Incense, Summer Palace

It is the main building of the Summer Palace