arts of islam quiz 2

nilometer (roda island, fustat)

measured nile flood levels; built 861-862 under caliph al-mutawakkil

tulunids (868-905)

egyptian dynasty founded in ahmad ibn tulun

ahmad ibn tulun

founder of the tulunid dynasty; built the mosque of ibn tulun

mosque of ibn tulun (876-879)

cairo mosque in samarra style with ziyada and dikka

qubbat al-sulaybiyya, samarra

early abbasid dome built under caliph al-muntasir (d. 862)

samanids (819-1005)

dynasty centered in bukhara

tomb of isma’il the samanid (ca. 914)

brick mausoleum in bukhara with squinch transition to dome

squinch

architectural element converting a square base into a circular dome support

ziyarids (932-1075)

dynasty ruling caspian provinces of iran

gunbad-i qabus (1006-1007)

tomb tower at gurgan built by ruler shams al-ma’ali qabus

ifriqiya

region including tunisia, libya, and algeria; former roman province

qayrawan

islamic capital of ifriqiya, founded 663-664

aghlabids (800-909)

abbasid-loyal dynasty ruling ifriqiya and sicily

ziyadat allah (817-838)

aghlabid viceroy of the abbasids

great mosque of qayrawan

founded 670; rebuilt several times with t-shaped plan and marble spolia

architectural features of qayrawan mosque

fortress-like structure, open courtyard, and buttressed bricked walls

purpose of monumental tombs

rare in early islam due to modest burial traditions

al-andalus

muslim spain, conquered 711

‘abd al-rahman I (r. 756-788)

founded independent umayyad emirate in cordoba

cordoba language shift

arabic replaced latin in 720 in administration

the great mosque of cordoba (785)

built by ‘abd al-rahman I on site of a former christian church

key feature of cordoba mosque

double-tier red and white horseshoe arches 

al-hakam II (961-976)

added mosaics and mihrab; most elaborate expansion

maqsura

screened area near the mihrab reserved for ruler

alfiz

rectangular frame around an arch, seen in cordoba architecture

‘abd al-rahman III (912-961)

declared caliphate in 929; built madinat al-zahra

madinat al-zahra (936-1010)

palatial city symbolizing umayyad power 

salon rico

audience hall of madinat al-zahra with marble decoration and horsehoe arches 

public ceremonies in al-andalus

more visible than eastern caliphs to show power

ziryab

musician who bought refined eastern culture to cordoba

fatimid caliphate (909-1171)

isma’ili shi’a dynasty descended from fatima, daughter of muhammad

cairo (al-qahira)

founded 969 by jawhar al-siqili under caliph al-mu’izz

meaning of “al-qahira”

“the victorious”

al-azhar mosque (969-972)

first congregational mosque in cairo; became major university

fatimid palaces

eastern (969-972) and western (975-969) built for caliphs

mosque of al-hakim (1010)

built outside city walls; known for twin minarets

badr al-jamali (1074)

vizier who rebuilt cairo’s walls and gates with stone

al-aqmar mosque (1125)

built under caliph al-amir and vizier al-ma’mun; carved stone facade aligned with street

architectural features of al-aqmar

muqarnas, keel arches, inscriptions linking caliph and vizier

sayyida ruqayya mashhad (1133)

mausoleum with squinches and shrine for a holy figure

mosque of al-salih tala ‘i’ (1160)

brick and stone mosque; built on top of shops

muqarnas

honeycomb vaulting or stalactite decoration

ta’wil

isma ‘ili esoteric interpretation of the qur’an

batin vs. zahir

hidden (esoteric) vs. apparent (exoteric) meanings of scripture

dar al-’ilm

“house of knowledge” for isma’ili teaching

concentric circle inscriptions

symbolized fatimid ideology of layered meaning and hiearchy

wazir 

military-political leader during later fatimid rule

al-hakim’s inscriptions

used to assert social and sectarian power in cairo

fatimid processions

displayed wealth and hierarchy through inscribed textiles and horses

khil’a

“robe of honor” given by ruler as sign of favor or appointment

baraka

divine blessing transmitted through imam’s robe or touch

political role of robes

used in diplomacy or as rewards and punishments 

economic value of robes of honor

made of gold-threaded silk; expensive luxury items

textile hiearchy of robes of honor

gold + silk= high rank; silk only= lower rank

mudhhahab

“gilded" fabric with gold thread for elites

hariri

silk-only garments for lower officials

textile inscriptions

carried ruler’s name or religious phrases for legitimacy

pseudo inscriptions

decorative but meaningless, used when symbolism outweighed text

material of mantle of roger II of sicily (1133-1134)

red silk embroidered with gold, pearls, and gems

imagery of mantle of roger II of sicily (1133-1134)

two lions attacking camels under a palm tree

symbolism of mantle of roger II of sicily (1133-1134)

lion= nobility; camel= foreign/defeated; palm= divine favor 

arabic inscription of mantle of roger II of sicily (1133-1134)

poetic praise of king’s prosperity and virtue 

purpose of sultan hasan complex (1357-1361)

combined mosque, madrasa, mausoleum, and hospital

layout of sultan hasan complex (1357-1361)

cruciform plan with four iwans for sunni schools of law

materials of sultan hasan complex (1357-1361)

lavish stone, marble, and muqarnas decoration

ziyada

extra outer wall surrounding a mosque courtyard

dikka

raised platform for qur’an recitation

mihrab

prayer niche indicating qibla direction

minaret

tower for the call to prayer 

mashhad

shrine commemorating a holy figure

madrasa

islamic school of learning

isma’ili shi’a dynasty

a branch of shi’a islam that follows isma’il, the son of ja’far al-sadiq, as the rightful imam; founders of the fatimid caliphate

the first four caliphs after the prophet muhammad

• abu bakr (d. 634)

• umar (d. 644)

• uthman (d. 656)

• ali (d. 656)

mu’awiya- umayyad

founder of the umayyad dynasty, established the first hereditary islamic caliphate after ali’s death

hasan (d. 669)

son of ali and fatima, briefly became caliph before giving up power to mu’awiya

husayn (d. 680)

son of ‘ali and fatima; martyred at karbala, a defining event in shi’a islam

isma’il (d. 734)

son of ja’far al-sadiq; regarded by isma’ili shi’a as the rightful imam and spiritual successor

ahl al-bayt

“people of the house”- refers to the prophet muhammad’s family, especially fatima, ‘ali, and their descendants

shi’at ‘ali (shi’a)

means “party of ‘ali; followers who believed ‘ali and his descendants were the rightful leaders of islam

main branches of shi’ism

1. twelver (imami) shi’a- a follow a line of 12 imams, ending with the hidden mahdi

2. isma’ili shi’a- follow isma’il and established the fatimid caliphate

the great mosque of mahdiyya (tunisia)

built around 920 CE near qayrawan; first fatimid monumental mosque, with a strong, fortress-like entrance

imam caliph al-muizz (r. 953-975)

the fatimid ruler who conquered egypt and founded cairo; his general jawhar al-siqilli led the building projects