What were the four principle Islamic architectural types?
The principal Islamic architectural types are: the Mosque, the Tomb, the Palace and the Fort. From these four types, the vocabulary of Islamic architecture is derived and used for other buildings such as public baths, fountains and domestic architecture.
What are the elements of decoration in Islamic architecture?
Decorative elements such as the use of arabesque, geometric interlace (girih) and muqarnas or stalactite vaults became widely spread. Common among these decorative elements are notions of modularity, geometry and rhythm.
What is special about Islamic architecture?
Islamic architecture is one of the world’s most celebrated building traditions. Known for its radiant colors, rich patterns, and symmetrical silhouettes, this distinctive approach has been popular in the Muslim world since the 7th century.
Why do mosques have mosaics?
Mosaic had been part of the artistic culture of the Roman Empire, and the mosaics of the 8th-century mosques and palaces may have been intended partly to present the caliphate as successor of that empire.
Who created Islamic architecture?
the Prophet Muhammad
The birth of the architecture of Islam symbolically may be traced to the construction by the Prophet Muhammad of his house and mosque in Medina in 622, which is the year of the Hijra, or the Prophet’s pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina, the founding of the first Islamic state, and the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Why do mosques have domed roofs?
It allows air to circulate, particularly in hot countries, and it is built over the prayer hall to allow one’s voice to be amplified. This tall tower is where the call to prayer is heard from.
Why do mosques have chandeliers?
Designed with precision, chandeliers have the colors and tomes to fit into your place of worship. They bring warmth, love, and elegance. They can be a centerpiece for that holy temple.
What are vegetal designs?
Vegetal patterns employed alone or in combination with the other major types of ornament—calligraphy, geometric pattern, and figural representation—adorn a vast number of buildings, manuscripts, objects, and textiles produced throughout the Islamic world.