Chapter 13:

The Art of the Islamic World

Chapter 13. Islamic Art 600 - 1600s CE, Fall 2010ArchitectureNote: Since the designation “Great Mosque” is generic, mosques are identified by their city as part of

their title, unless they have a specific name.13.2/ 3 Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 7th C CE13.8     Great Mosque & plan at Kairouan, Tunisia, 9th C (see 13.5)13.25   Mihrab, glazed mosaic tilework, Iran, ca. 135413.22/23/24 Great Mosque at Isfahan, Iran, 11-17th C13.11/13       Interiors of Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain; prayer hall and dome over the mihrab, 8th-

10th C (also see 3.12, the Maqsura)13.20/21       Sinan, Great Mosque of Selim II, Edirne, Turkey, 16th C13.1 Court of the Lions, Palace of the Lions, Alhambra, Grenada, Spain, 1354-1391 13.17 Muqarnas dome, Hall of the Two Sisters, Grenada, Spain, 1354-1391 Decorative & Luxury Arts13.16 Page from the Koran, the beginning of surah 18, 9-10th C, ink & gold on vellum, (Eastern

Kufic style)13.28   Maqsud of Kashan, Funerary carpet from Iran (the Ardabil carpets), 1540 CE, knotted wool

and silk 13.27 Sultan-Muhammad, page from the Shahnama, ink, gold & watercolor on paper, (also see

13.26 by Bihzad) Terms:Islam:  Allah, Muhammad, Muslim, (Arab), Mecca, Hijara (Hegira), haaj, 5 pillars of Islam, Qu’ran/Koran,

surah(s), caliphs/caliphates, imam; Abrahamic tradition; Ottoman Empire (1299-1922), Caliphs & Sultans

 Architecture: the mosque and its variations: hypostyle, iwan, central-plan; qibla (or kibla) wall, mihrab,

minaret, muqarnas, horseshoe arch, double-tier arch, squinches, madrasa, Great mosque/Friday mosque/congregational mosque

 Decorative Arts: Kufic and Muhaqqaq calligraphy styles, arabesque, cuerda seca tilework (vs. mosaic

tilework), miniatures, birds-eye-view & vertical perspective

3

The Islamic World

Three Mosque Types

Figure 13-2 Aerial view of the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 687–692.

Figure 13-3 Interior of the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 687–692.

Figure 13-8 Aerial view of the Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisia, ca. 836–875.

Figure 13-8 Plan of the Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisia, ca. 836–875.

Figure 13-25 Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, ca. 1354. Glazed mosaic tilework

Figure 13-22 Aerial view (looking southwest) of the Great Mosque, Isfahan, Iran, 11th to 17th centuries.

Figure 13-24 Winter prayer hall of the Shahi (Imam) Mosque, Isfahan, Iran, 1611–1638.

Figure 13-11 Prayer hall of the Great Mosque, Córdoba, Spain, 8th to 10th centuries.

Figure 13-13 Dome in front of the mihrab of the Great Mosque, Córdoba, Spain, 961–965.

Figure 13-20 SINAN, Mosque of Selim II, Edirne, Turkey, 1568–1575.

Figure 13-21 SINAN, interior of the Mosque of Selim II, Edirne, Turkey, 1568–1575.

Figure 13-1 Court of the Lions, Palace of the Lions, Alhambra, Grenada, Spain, 1354-1391

Figure 13-17 Muqarnas dome, Hall of the Two Sisters, Palace of the Lions, Alhambra, Granada, Spain, 1354–1391.

Figure 13-16 Koran page with beginning of surah 18, “Al-Kahf” (The Cave), 9th or early 10th century. Ink and gold on vellum

Figure 13-28 MAQSUD OF KASHAN, carpet from the funerary mosque of Shaykh Safi al-Din, Ardabil, Iran, 1540.Knotted pile of wool and silk

Figure 13-27 SULTAN-MUHAMMAD, page from the Shahnama, ink, gold & watercolor on paper