Art and Architecture of the Islamic World Notes
Origins of Islam
Islam's origins are tied to the Qu'ran, Prophet Muhammad, and holy sites.
The Five Pillars of Islam:
Profession of Faith (Shahada): "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet."
Daily Prayers (Salat): Pray five times a day facing Mecca.
Alms-Giving (Zakat): Share wealth with less fortunate believers.
Ramadan (Saum): Fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan.
Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj): Visit the Kaaba and walk around it seven times, if able.
Early Islamic Buildings
Kaaba: The heart of Islam, located in Mecca.
Dome of the Rock: An early religious shrine in Jerusalem, influenced by Byzantine architecture.
Features a wooden dome 25m high and 20m wide.
Contains mosaics with vegetal patterns, jewels, crowns, and Arabic inscriptions.
Foundation Stone: Sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Mosque Architecture
Common elements:
Courtyard
Mihrab: Niche indicating the direction of Mecca.
Minbar: Pulpit for sermons.
Minaret: Tower for the call to prayer.
Dome
Furnishings: Hanging lamps and calligraphic inscriptions from the Qur'an.
Mosque Architectural Types
Hypostyle Mosque:
Modeled after the House of the Prophet Muhammad.
Example: Great Mosque of Damascus.
Four-Iwan Mosque:
Features a courtyard with iwans (vaulted spaces).
Example: Great Mosque of Isfahan.
Centrally-Planned Mosque:
Popular in the Ottoman Empire, influenced by Hagia Sophia.
Example: The Blue Mosque.
Islamic Arches & Vaults
Basic Types of Islamic Arches:
Horseshoe arch.
Multifoil arch.
Vaults:
Ribbed Vault: Framework of crossed or diagonal arched ribs.
Crossed Arch Vault: Ribs are intertwined, forming polygons or stars.
Islamic Mausolea
Taj Mahal: A mausoleum and memorial to Mumtaz Mahal in Agra, India.
Represents an Islamic idea of Paradise with gardens and water channels.
Considerations in Islamic Art
Islamic vs. Mudéjar: Mudéjar style incorporates Islamic-style characteristics in buildings under Christian rule.
Aniconism: Avoidance of images of sentient beings in some forms of Islamic art, particularly religious contexts.
Key Disciplines in Islamic Ornament
Geometry
Arabesque: Rhythmic linear patterns of foliage, flowers, and tendrils.
Calligraphy
Elements of Islamic Design
Carpets and Rugs: E.g., The Ardabil Carpet.
Tiles
Muqarnas: Ornamented vaulting resembling honeycomb.
Palace Architecture: The Alhambra, Spain
Three Nazrid Palaces:
Palace of Comares
Palace of the Lions
Partal Palace
Key features: Landscape, water, paradise garden concept.