Islamic Architecture

What was the core principle of Mosque Architecture during the emergence of Islam?

God is everywhere, unrelated to space.

Prayer can be performed anywhere

No prescribed form of Mosque

Mosque Architecture has developed and changed alongside society’s cultural environment and conditions

How did the orientation of Prophet Muhammad SAW change?

It was the first mosque in Medina, first oriented towards Jerusalem, then to Al Qibla

How is a Mosque greater than just a place for prayer?

1- Prayer

2- Center of Social Life

3- Space for Education

4- Space for Community gatherings

5- Shelter for Travellers

6- Distributing food to the poor

What greatly influenced Mosque Plans?

Islam :

• The ritual of namaz/salah/prayer

performed in parallel rows behind the leader of the prayer (Imam)

facing towards the Qibla

Why do muslims need a mosque - communal prayer, social need

masjid comes from the word sujud - place to prostrate

Christianity :

• Mortuaries/mausoleums for saints and figures

• Basilica for liturgical purposes (Eucharist/Baptism, Sermons, Veneration and Offerings)

What is the importance of Jerusalem as a Holy Site?

Pagan site → Jewish → Christian → Muslim

Syncreticism, Hybridity - similarities and parallels between previous religious architecture and locality

Who were the Caliphates?

Caliphates were the friends of the Prophet, who deemed themselves political and religious leaders - protectors of the Muslims.

The Umayyad Caliph expanded Islamic Architecture even to Southern Spain

What is a Mosque?

Religious, but also Cultural, Social, Urban Center

What was the first form of mosque in early Islam?

Hypostyle mosque - similar to Egyptian Temples (Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple)

What was the first form of Christian Architecture?

Domed Basilica

What was the significance of the Dome of the Rock?

1. Pagan temples built at the site - presence of Roman Empire

2. Second Temple - Jewish sacred site

3. Christian Significance - Location of Isaac’s sacrifice by Abraham (Abraham’s sacrifice of his son)

4. Islamic Importance - Location of Prophet Muhammad’s ascent to the heavens (Miraaj)

Was there also a presence of Roman Empire in the Middle East?

Romans built pagan temples at the site of The Dome of the Rock - presence of Roman Empire

Why was Dome of the Rock Built?

It is identified as the earliest Islamic structure, thought to have been built as a commemorative building rather than for prayer.

How were Muslims influenced by the Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire?

Muslims were in contact with the Romans in Istanbul, where it was common in religious veneration churches to have a circular corridor which became an ambulatory, seen first in Christianity then Islam

What does the location of the Dome of the Rock indicate?

Located within the plan of Al Aqsa, near the Tomb of Christ, competition of religious architecture is very visible

What is the structure of the Kathisma Church?

Tetraconch Church - variation of centrally planned churches. Seen in Byzantine Empire. Served as a model for the Dome of the Rock.

What are the features of the Dome of the Rock?

• Hexagonal, central planning (Octagonal shape)

• Symbolic muslim dome (identical diameter to dome of Holy Sepulchre - fluidity, not afraid of other religions but respectful and acknowledges them, follows Christian Architects)

• Roman column and arcaded structure

• Byzantine marble column capitals

• Similar to Christian mausoleum with ambulatory and dome

• Islamic, Byzantine and Persian (coloured marble) decorative program

What were the main Influences when forming an Islamic Architectural language?

1. In contact with Romans - Byzantine influence

2. Fluidity and Respectful of early religions (Christian architectural conventions), but add their own touch

3. Locality - local materials, typologies, architectural conventions

4. Martyrial

5. Levantine Eastern Mediterranean decorative program + Byzantine gilded mosaics

6. Pre-Islamic Sassanid, Persian Influences

What are Islamic Decorative programs?

Arabesque Motifs and Calligraphy

→ Scrolls

→ Acanthus Leaves (represent paradise)

→ Foliage

→ Animal iconography (unlike early Standardised Christian Iconography of political or religious leaders as visuals of the human figure is forbidden - worship of icons is forbidden - ICONOCLASM)

→ Islamic verses

What is the effect of the Dome of the Rock

• Splendid Decoration almost hides the structural elements

• Competes in splendour with great Christian monuments and sanctuaries

• Celebrates the Umayyad Dynasty

• Commemorates its religious associations

What was the culture of the Caliphs towards Architecture?

Very respectful, not destructive of older structures

What is Qusayr 'Amra?

Palace of the Caliphs. In contrast, had human figurative art, depictions of women, etc.

What are the basic requirements of a mosque?

related to salah/namaz :

1. Minaret - high platform/tower to call for prayer

2. Mihrab - defined place for leader of congregation/prayer (Imam), located on a wall that faced Qibla

3. Minbar - stairway leading to a raised platform where Khutbah will be delivered (PULPIT)

4. Maqsura - Imperial, secluded space for governors, caliphs, later sultans, political and religious leaders (led Friday prayer in place of the Imam)

5. Ablution - basin/fountain usually in a courtyard

What is the difference between a mosque and masjid?

Masjid - smaller, no congregation

Mosque - urban center, place of congregation (congregational mosque, friday prayer)

What was the earliest form of Mosque Planning seen in Kufa, Iraq The Great Mosque (Kufa - first Umayyad Capital)?

Hypostyle Planning - adaptable, flexible, and multiplied (Adopted from Ancient Egyptian → Ancient Greek → Roman, etc)

Why and where was The Great Mosque of Damascus commisioned?

Commissioned by the Umayyad in Damascus, an important urban center, as a congregational Friday mosque with he sultan/leader in attendance (like Sultanahmet Mosque)

How is the Great mosque of Damascus similar to the Dome of the Rock?

It has a fluidity and presence of different religious architecture

Roman Pagan Temple (Temple Jupiter) → converted into a Church (Church of John Baptist) → demolished during the rebuilding of the Great Mosque

What are clear influences seen in the Great Mosque of Damascus?

• Resembles Roman Forum

• Greek Pediment/Roman Portico (Pantheon)

• Eastern Roman (Byzantine) - mosaics and double-tiered columns

• Circulation and Directionality depends on location of Qibla

What are the features of the Great Mosque of Damascus?

• thin pencil minarets (trademark of Ottomans)

• mosaics - strongly byzantine christian but mediterranean origin

• Acanthus leaves and trees - could represent Damascus itself or heavens

• Continues Roman, Byzantine form of representation

• Basilical Plan

• Double-tiered columns (basket and impost capitals) - Eastern Roman/Byzantine

• Use of Spolia - what was available, practical, cheap, Repurposed Eastern Byzantine Columns

How can the location of the Qibla become a limiting factor in the Great Mosque?

The arches and columns can contradict or become obstacles due to strong predecessors and local existing architectural conventions

How is there presence of Roman architecture in Egypt?

Towards the end of their time, Roman Empire reached and conquered Egypt - presence of pagan temples and architecture

What is the purpose of Maqsura?

Imperial - protectional and separation

Isolate and protect the caliphate; being invisible was a show of power. Maqsura was later added to Hagia Sophia in the 16th century.

What are the features of the Great Mosque of Cordoba

• Hypostyle mosque expanded in both axises

Exterior - Gothic-style church

Interior - Forest of Columns (double-tiered arcades), very Islamic, Umayyad

• Interlacing Horshoe arches - Visigothic architectural element (hemispherical - Roman)

• Intricate Decoration

What was the presence of Umayyad in Spain?

At the time, there was no reigning power in Europe, just small local authorities - land owners used to govern their own land - feudal systems.

What were the influences on the Great Mosque of Cordoba?

Pre-existing European, Spanish, Christian Architecture.

Local Visigoths culture (small local authorities - many different architectural cultures)

New Umayyad Architecture

What was the Intricate Decoration of the Mosque of Cordoba?

1. Very stylised Calligraphy (quranic verses)

2. Ionic style column capitals

3. Arabesque Motifs (scrolls)

4. Stuco - stone carved decoration - MUQARNAS

5. Multiple-tier arches in column capitals

6. Pointed arches

7. Wood carving and decoration

8. Unity between motifs of different cultures

PEAK OF ISLAMIC DECORATION

What is Muqarnas?

A mathematical decorative program of triangular modeling.

Where are Squinches used

transitional support between

dome and rectangular base

dome and archaded base

dome and square base

etc.

How did the style evolve in time?

Christians regained the space and built the exterior Gothic-style church - focusing more on verticality

What is the Umayyad Mosque plan scheme?

Form - simple and straightforward response to functional need/demand

Structure - flexible, additive bay system, multi-columned hypostyle mosques. Expanded as needed without predetermined composition or focus.

Towards the 10th century, how did the Abbasid Caliphates expand their thinking ?

They began to think on a larger scale, of cities and urban planning. They had the ideology of Medina - the place of rightful law

They began to search for the image of the ideal city of peace in Baghdad.

What was the Abbasid’s image of the ideal city?

MICROCOSMOS OF THE UNIVERSE : Ideal urban planning consisted of a hypostyle mosque at the centre, attached to a palace with an iwan scheme and a central dome.

Double ring system that could be locked - Power, Equality but also a Strict Control

Strong, controlled radial planning

Outer canal, ring of water

Assyrian gardens - strong mention of gardens

Microcosmic plan is a representation of the universe in the mind of the Abbasid

What are the features of the Great mosque of Samarra during the time of Abbasid ?

• Outside the city

• Mudbrick Material

• Detatched Minaret (many variations in earlier times) - need for vertical structure in mosques for the call of prayer

• Urban scale - Huge courtyard wall

Abbasid Architecture was a purification and simplification of the Umayyad inheritance.

What is the indication of material use?

Refer to locality - Iraq - In and out of Mesopotamia - Mudbrick