Islamic Architecture Influences

 Influences of Islamic Architecture

• Islamic Architecture emerged soon After Muhammad's S.A.W.W. time, which was inspired by the Byzantine and Sassanid.
• One of the most important buildings of Islamic Architecture is The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem build in 691.

  

  The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem built in 691
  
  
  

• It is patterned after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Byzantine  Chritirstin artists were employed to create ita elaborate mosaic against the golden background.
• The extraordinary epigraphic vine frieze was adjusted from the Pre-Islamic Syrian Style.
• The Dome of the Rock featured interior vaulted spaces, a round dome, and the utilization of stylized repeating decorative arabesque patterns.
• Desert palaces in Jordan and Syria served the caliphs as living quarters, meeting rooms and showers, and were decorated to promote an image of royal luxury.
• The horseshoe arch became a well-known component in Islamic structures

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  Horseshoe Arch

  
  
• It said that the adopted it from Syria and Persia where the horseshoe arch has been used by the Byzantines as early as the 5th century.
• After the Moorish intrusion of Spain in 711 AD, the form was taken by the Umayyads who emphasized the curvature of the horseshoe.
• The Great Mosque of Damascus based on the site of the basilica of John the Baptist after the Islamic invasion of Damascus, a still incredible similarity to 6th and 7th-century Christian basilicas.
• Certain modifications were executed, including extending the structure along the transversal axis which is a better fit with the Islamic style of prayer.
• The Abbasid dynasty witnessed the movement of the capital from Damascus to Baghdad, and from Bagdad to Samara.
• The shift to Baghdad influenced politics, culture, and art.
• The great mosque of Samarra, once the biggest in the world, was built for the new capital.
• Other major mosques built in the Abbasid architecture in Iraq as exemplified in the Fortress of AL-Ukhaidir.
• The Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia is viewed as the precursor of the considerable number of mosques in the western Islamic world.
• Its original marble columns and sculptures were of Roman workmanship brought in form Carthage and other elements resemble Roman form.
• It is one of the best-preserved and most significant examples of early great mosques, founded in 670 A.D.
• The Great Mosque of Kairouan is comprised of a massive square Minrate,  a huge courtyard surrounded by porticos, and a large hypostyle prayer hall covered on its axis by two cupolas.
• The great mosque of Samara in Iraq, completed in 474 AD, combined the hypostyle architecture.

  

  Great Mosque of Kairouan
  
  

• The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul also influenced by Islamic Architecture. When Ottomans conquered the city from Byzantine., they converted the Basilica to the Mosque.
• The Hagia Sophia also served the model of many mosques e.g. Shehzad Mosque, The Suleman Mosque, and  The Rustom Pasha mosque.

  

  
  Hagia Sophia
  

   
• Domes are the major structure of Islamic Arts and Architecture.
• The dome first appears in 691 in Islamic Architecture.
• Motifs of Islamic Architecture have always been the mathematical themes of repetition, rhythmic, and patterns. 
• other features are included Colounms, piers, arches, and niches.

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Evolution Of Islamic Geometric Patterns 

There are 3 stages of the Evolution of Islamic Geometric Patterns. 

• Early-stage.
• Middle stage.
• Late-stage.

Early Stage:

                              The earliest Islamic Pattern Formation was isolated shapes such as 8 pointed stars and diamond shapes. It is from 836 in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia, and since then it spread all over the Islamic World.

Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia

Tile work of the Great Mosque of Kairouan

Middle Stage:

The next development of Islamic Geometric patterns appear in 879, was of 6 and 8 point stars at the Ibn Tulun Mosque, Cairo. Then it became widespread.

Ibn Tulun Mosque, Cairo.

A variety of Patterns was used in the 11th century. 6 and 8 point patterns appeared in the Tower of Kharaqan at Qazvin, Persia in 1067. And Al Jusyushi Mosque, Egypt in 1085. Again it became widespread from there and these patterns were rare in Turkey.

In 1086, 7 and 10 points patterns appeared on Friday Mosque, Ishfan. And it became spread in the Islamic World except for Spain. Soon afterward   9, 11, and 13 point patterns were used in Barsian Mosque. In 1098, these patterns were used in Persia and Central Asia.

In addition, At the end of the middle stage 8 and 12 pointed geometric patterns were appeared in Alaeddin Mosque at Konya, Turkey in 1220. and in 1230 they also appeared in Abbasid Palace, Baghdad. It became widespread across the world. 

Late Stage :

                              The beginning of late-stage is marked by the use of simple 16 point patterns At the Hasan Sadaqah mausoleum, Cario in 1321 and Alhambra Palace in Spain in 1338-1390. These patterns rarely found outside these two regions.

Al Hambra Palace, Spain

In addition, These Patterns were also found in the Sultan Hasan complex, Cario. in 1363. Finally, 14 point patterns appear in the Jama mosque at Fatehpur Sikri in India in 1571- 1569.

Fatehpur Sikri, India

So, These were the three stages of the formation of Islamic geometric patterns. It was formed gradually in every stage. Instead of this these patterns forms in many artworks which I will discuss later. I hope you like this. Stay tuned for next. Thank you.

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