Islamic architecture has evolved over time, borrowing from neighboring civilizations. Mosques are the most notable building, originally being open courtyards but now featuring elements like minarets, mihrabs, and minbars. Major mosques include the Grand Mosque in Mecca housing the Kaaba, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul modeled after Hagia Sophia. Regional variations exist like the ziggurat-style minaret in Samarra, Iraq and dome shapes in Iran. Mughal architecture fused Islamic and Hindu styles. The Taj Mahal is a famous mausoleum. Moorish architecture in places like the Alhambra and Mesquita

1. IslamIc archItecture
Comparative
Civilizations 12
K.J. Benoy

2. 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
Mohammad’s
house in Medina.

3. Mosques
• The courtyard – descendant of the basilica’s
atrium and the Egyptian temple court,
remains a feature of most mosques today

4. Mosques
– Within the
courtyard is
usually an
ablution
fountain –
where the
worshipper
symbolically
washes
before
prayer.

5. 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.

6. Mosques
– There is also a
minbar, or pulpit,
from which
sermons are
delivered.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Mosques
• Moslems
borrowed
extensively from
neighbouring
civilization
because there
was no native Hagia Sophia – converted to a
architectural style mosque after the Moslem
conquest of Constantinople
in Mohammad’s
homeland.

10. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
• Istanbul’s Blue
Mosque is
clearly based
on the Hagia
Sophia.
• Mehmet Aga’s
17th century
structure rises
77 feet to the
top of its
central dome.

11. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
• It is
actually
built facing
Justinian’s
Church, on
the site of
the old
Imperial
Palace.

12. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Central dome of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

13. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Note the massive pendentive and windowed drum.

14. 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.

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

16. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul

17. The Blue Mosque - Istanbul
• Stained glass
creates a
magical
lighting effect.
• However,
unlike
European
stained glass,
there are no
images of
people, due to
Mohammad’s
prohibition
against them.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. The Grand Mosque - Mecca
• Mecca’s Grand Mosque houses Islam’s most holy
site – the Kaaba, which all moslems face to pray.
• It features the Kaaba in its massive courtyard.

21. The Grand Mosque - Mecca
This simple cube-shaped The Black stone at one of
building predates Islam, but its corners is, contrary to
is a site of pilgrimage for Koranic teaching,
millions of moslems. venerated by many
Moslems.

22. The Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem
• This is one of
Islam’s
earliest
mosques.
• It is built on a
site holy to
Jews,
Christians and
Moslems.
• Note the
Byzantine
inspired
Central Plan.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. Mosque of Sheik Lotfallah-
Isfahan
• Note the ornate and characteristically Persian
dome.
• Note also the tendence toward horror vacui.

26. Mogul Architecture
• The Moslem
conquerors of
India
developed an
architecture of
particular
grace and
grandeur.
• Persian domes
and great
gates
appeared
throughout
northern India.

27. Mogul Architecture
• Sometimes Islamic
and Hindu features
were fused – as in
Akbar’s palace
complex at
Fatehpur Sikri.
• In the pavilion to
the right one sees
the traditional
trabeated Hindu
features, merged
with Persian
domes.

28. 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.

29. The Taj Mahal

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. The Mesquita - Cordoba

35. The Mesquita - Cordoba
• Close
examination of
the pillar
capitals reveal
that they are
recycled from
earlier
buildings –
both Roman
and Germanic.

36. The Mesquita - Cordoba
• Another prominent
feature is the
incredibly intricate
arching found in
the Mihrab – here
called the Capilla
de Villaviciosa.

37. The Mesquita - Cordoba
• The vaulting is also wondrously complex,
showing the Arab love of geometry

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. The Alhambra - Grenada
• The Court of Lions, with its slim columns and
carved lace-like wall surfaces are unique.

41. The Alhambra - Grenada

42. The Alhambra - Grenada
• The carved
stucco of the
ceiling in the
Hall of the Two
Sisters is
unparalleled in
beauty and
geometrical
complexity.

43. 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.

44. The Generalife - Grenada
• The fountains
and abundant
water
features
serve to
reduce the
temperature
of the palace
gardens.

45. Mud Mosque at Djenne - Mali
• One of the strangest Islamic structures in
the world is the mud mosque at Djenne.

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. Islamic Architecture Today
Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, in Brunei.

49. Finis