Comparative Civilizations 12

K.J. Benoy
Mosques
The Most notable
type of building is
the mosque.
Originally this
was only a large
open area where
the faithful would
gather.
The original
mosque was
probably the
courtyard of
Mohammads
house in Medina.
Mosques
The courtyard descendant of the basilicas
atrium and the Egyptian temple court,
remains a feature of most mosques today
Mosques
Within the
courtyard is
usually an
ablution
fountain
where the
worshipper
symbolically
washes
before
prayer.
Mosques
Certain
characteristics are
present in most
mosques.
The Mihrab, or
niche, indicates
the Qibla, the
direction of
Mecca, which the
faithful must face
when praying.
Mosques
There is also a
minbar, or pulpit,
from which
sermons are
delivered.
Mosques
And a minaret, or
tower, from which
the Muezzin call
the faithful to
prayer.
Originally this call
was made from
the main roof of
the mosque.
Minarets
developed from
Christian bell
towers. Later they
influenced
Christian designs.
Mosques
The social
obligations within
the religion later
led to the addition
of madrassa
(schools, colleges
or universities)
attached.
Occasionally
there were and
are also hospitals.

Mosques
Moslems
borrowed
extensively from
neighbouring
civilization
because there
was no native
architectural style
in Mohammads
homeland.
Hagia Sophia converted to a
mosque after the Moslem
conquest of Constantinople
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Istanbuls Blue
Mosque is
clearly based
on the Hagia
Sophia.
Mehmet Agas
17
th
century
structure rises
77 feet to the
top of its
central dome.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
It is
actually
built facing
Justinians
Church, on
the site of
the old
Imperial
Palace.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Central dome of Istanbuls Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Note the massive pendentive and windowed drum.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
The Blue Mosque
is more properly
known as the
Sultan Ahmed
Mosque.
Its more common
western name
comes from the
wide use of blue
Iznik tiles.












The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
This mosque is particularly notable for its six
minarets.

The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Stained glass
creates a
magical
lighting effect.
However,
unlike
European
stained glass,
there are no
images of
people, due to
Mohammads
prohibition
against them.
The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
It is the
magnificent dome
and adjoining half-
domes that
impress most.
Built a thousand
years after the
Hagia Sophia, the
Blue Mosque
displays more
grace than its
predecessor.
The Great Mosque at Samarra, Iraq
Regional
variations in
Islamic
architecture reflect
local traditions,
where they exist.
The Great Mosque
at Samarra has a
minaret in the
style of a
Babylonian
Ziggurat.
The Grand Mosque - Mecca
Meccas Grand Mosque houses Islams most holy
site the Kaaba, which all moslems face to pray.
It features the Kaaba in its massive courtyard.
The Grand Mosque - Mecca
This simple cube-shaped
building predates Islam,
but is a site of pilgrimage
for millions of moslems.
The Black stone at one of
its corners is, contrary to
Koranic teaching,
venerated by many
Moslems.
The Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem
This is one of
Islams
earliest
mosques.
It is built on a
site holy to
Jews,
Christians and
Moslems.
Note the
Byzantine
inspired
Central Plan.
The Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem
Interior of the Dome of the Rock where Abraham
intended to sacrifice Isaac and where, for a time,
Mohammad directed Moslems to face when praying
until Mecca became a Moslem city.
The Blue Mosque - Isfahan
Iranian mosques
frequently used the
same blue tiles as
was popular in
Ottoman Turkey.
However, their Iwan
(great Hall) form and
characteristic
monumental
entrances are purely
Persian in design.
Mosque of Sheik Lotfallah-
Isfahan
Note the ornate and characteristically Persian
dome.
Note also the tendence toward horror vacui.
Mogul Architecture
The Moslem
conquerors of
India
developed an
architecture of
particular
grace and
grandeur.
Persian domes
and great
gates
appeared
throughout
northern India.
Mogul Architecture
Sometimes Islamic
and Hindu features
were fused as in
Akbars palace
complex at
Fatehpur Sikri.
In the pavilion to
the right one sees
the traditional
trabeated Hindu
features, merged
with Persian
domes.
The Taj Mahal
The most
famous Mogul
building of all
is neither a
palace or a
mosque.
Rather, it is a
mausoleum to
house the
favourite wife
of a mogul
emperor.
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal
Modelled on a
mosque, the
building is sited in
a garden.
The glistening
white marble
appears almost
weightless,
despite the
volume of
masonry.
The Taj Mahal
Unlike its Persian
predecessors, there
is no sense of horror
vacui.
Rather, the inlaid
stone work has a
restrained feel of
balance and
harmony. Floral
decoration, and,
especially passages
from the Koran in
magnificent
calligraphy, decorate
its marble surfaces.

The Mesquita -- Cordoba
In Spain, some of
the most
exuberant Moslem
architecture
evolved.
A prime example
of this Moorish
architecture is
theMesquite
(mosque) in
Cordoba.
The Mesquita - Cordoba
The horseshoe-
shaped double
arch atop its forest
of columns is
easily identified.
The double arch
helped to increase
the vertical height
of the ceiling.
The Mesquita - Cordoba


The Mesquita - Cordoba
Close
examination of
the pillar
capitals reveal
that they are
recycled from
earlier
buildings
both Roman
and Germanic.
The Mesquita - Cordoba
Another prominent
feature is the
incredibly intricate
arching found in
the Mihrab here
called the Capilla
de Villaviciosa.
The Mesquita - Cordoba
The vaulting is also wondrously complex,
showing the Arab love of geometry
The Mesquita - Cordoba
Perhaps the
strangest feature of
the Mesquita today is
th Christian church
carved out of the
middle of the original
mosque.
Yet another example
of cultural recycling
but strangely out of
keeping with the rest
of the building.
The Alhambra - Grenada
For a time
Grenada was the
Moorish capital of
Spain.
The Alhambra
palace complex
contains some of
the most beautiful
Islamic
architecture in the
world.

The Alhambra - Grenada
The Court of Lions, with its slim columns and
carved lace-like wall surfaces are unique.
The Alhambra - Grenada
The Alhambra - Grenada
The carved
stucco of the
ceiling in the
Hall of the Two
Sisters is
unparalleled in
beauty and
geometrical
complexity.
The Alhambra - Grenada
Of particular note
is the use of water
as an architectural
feature.
The Patio de los
Aranyanes shows
the value of water
to a culture with
desert roots.
The Generalife - Grenada
The fountains
and abundant
water
features
serve to
reduce the
temperature
of the palace
gardens.
Mud Mosque at Djenne - Mali
One of the strangest Islamic structures in
the world is the mud mosque at Djenne.
Mud Mosque at Djenne - Mali
Here the palm
wood beams
extend out in
order to
support
scaffolding for
the workers
who must
annually
plaster its
surface.
Islamic Architecture Today
Traditional
features remain
apparent, but are
interpreted in
novel ways.
New building
materials and
techniques create
new and
interesting
possibilities.
Shah Faisal Mosque,
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Islamic Architecture Today
Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, in Brunei.
Finis