Page 490 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

ARCHITECTURE
Budlike
Islamic buildings onion dome Depressed arch surrounding mihrab
Painted roof
pavilion
Turkish- Lotus-flower
THE ISLAMIC RELIGION was founded by
crescent pendentive
the prophet Muhammad, who was born in finial
Arabic
Mecca (in present-day Saudi Arabia) about Crest inscription
570 ad. In the following three centuries,
Islam spread from Arabia to North Africa
OPUS SECTILE and Spain, as well as to India and much
MOSAIC DESIGN
of the rest of Asia. The worldwide Painted
influence of Islam remains strong today. minaret
Common characteristics of Islamic buildings with censer
(incense
include ogee arches and roofs, onion domes, and burner)
walls decorated with carved stone, paintings, inlays,
or mosaics. The most important type of Islamic
Spandrel
building is the mosque—the place of worship—
Series of
which generally has a minaret (tower) from recessed arches
which the muezzin (official crier) calls
Muslims to prayer. Most mosques have a mihrab Semidome
(decorative niche) that indicates the direction Arched niche
of Mecca. As figurative art is not allowed within a niche
in Islam, buildings are ornamented with
Mural resembling tomb Polyhedral niche Recessed colonettes
geometric and arabesque motifs, and
inscriptions (frequently Koranic verses). MIHRAB, JAMI MASJID (PRINCIPAL OR CONGREGATIONAL
MOSQUE), BIJAPUR, INDIA, c.1636
Shield Herringbone pattern
Tablet
flower
Enameled
Spandrel turquoise
with floral earthenware Cube with
design tile
chamfered
corners
Trigon
Ogee arch
Polygonal
Carved Band with capital
stone Arabic
Undulating inscriptions Niche
band praising
Allah (God)
Cusp Enameled white
earthenware tile
Volute
Impost
Column
shaft Arabesques of
Capital with
stylized floral stylized plants
design
Attached
colonette
Panel Enameled lapis
with fret blue earthenware
pattern tile

Jali (latticed screen) with geometrical patterns MIHRAB WITH COLUMN, EL-AINYI
MOSQUE, CAIRO, EGYPT, 15TH CENTURY
ARCH, THE ALHAMBRA, GRANADA, SPAIN, 1333-1354

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