The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia Surrounded by the mosque of al-Masjid al-Haram
Aerial view of Haram Al-Sharif, Jerusalem Islam: Muhammad ascended to the presence of God Jews and Christians: Solomon’s temple, creation of Adam, Abrahams sacrifice of Isaac
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem 691 CE Byzantine tradition Golden dome Central plan / Octogonal
The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Dome Drum Arcade of piers and columns Aisles/ambulatories Exterior tiles Islam: Muhammad ascended to the presence of God Jews and Christians: Solomon’s temple, creation of Adam, Abrahams sacrifice of Isaac
Marble veneer and mosaic; frieze with passages form Qu’ran, other texts, history of the rock in gold mosaic on turquoise green; columns of gray marble and golden capitals
minaret The Great Mosque Kairouan, Tunisia 836–75
Sultan Hasan Madrasa-Mausoleum-Mosque Complex Cairo, Egypt 14 th cent. minbar mihrab
Morocco, Marrakesh Kutubiyya Mosque Minbar from the Almoravid period,
Jama Mosque in Delhi, India Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Great Mosque Cordoba, Spain 786 – 987 Area covered: 620 x 460’ 1/3 of it is the courtyard Mihrab Mosaics with inscriptions, geometric motifs and stylized vegetation Dome in front of the mihrab
Muqarna Horseshoe Arch Pointed Arch
Great Mosque, Cordoba, Spain Begun 785–86 Complexity of design reflects Islamic interest in mathematics and geometry as sources of artistic inspiration White stone and red brick voussoirs
Court of the Lions, Palace of the Lions, Alhambra, Granada, Spain 1354–91 The Alhambra
Muqarnas Dome Hall of the Abencerrajes Palace of the Lions, Alhambra 1354–91 carved stucco
The Great Mosque of Isfahan, Iran 11th–18th century 14th-century iwan vault, 17th-century minarets Blue glazed tile
Mihrab Madrasa Imami, Isfahan Iran Founded 1354 Tile Mosaic Glazed and cut tiles 11'3" X 7'6"
Mosque of Sultan Selim II, Edirne Turkey 1568–75 Ottoman architect Sinan (Sinan the Great) Climax of Ottoman architecture
Interior, Mosque of Sultan Selim Dome higher from its base than Hagia Sophia’s
Page from the Qur'an in kufic script 9th century Black ink pigments, and gold on vellum, 8⅜ X 11⅛" calligraphy
Arabic manuscript page (Kufic and Nashki script) 1199, Iraq The status of calligraphers
Bowl with kufic border E with slip, pigment, and lead glaze “Knowledge : the beginning of it is bitter to taste, but the end is sweeter than honey” 9th–10th century
Textile with elephants and camels (known today as the Shroud of Saint Josse) Before 961 Dyed silk, largest fragment 20½ X 37" From Khurasan or Central Asia
Mamluk glass oil lamp c Syria or Egypt Glass, polychrome enamel, and gold height 12" (30.5 cm) “God is the light of the heavens and the earth. His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp, a lamp in a glass, the glass as a glittering star. The Qu’ran
Illuminated Tugra of Sultan Suleyman Ink, paint, and gold on paper removed from a firman and trimmed to 20½ X 25⅜" c. 1555–60 Istanbul, Turkey
From a copy of the 12th-century Khamsa (Five Poems) of Nizami Kamal al-Din Bihzad The Caliph Harun Al-Rashid Visits the Turkish Bath c Herat, Afghanistan Ink and pigments on paper c. 7 X 6"
Brass with inlaid silver and copper height 2", length 12⅝", width 2½" Pen Box 1210–11 From Iran or Afghanistan
The Macy Jug Composite body glazed, painted fritware and incised (glaze partially stained with cobalt), with pierced outer shell 6 ⅝ X 7 ¾" 1215–16 Iran
Banner of Las Navas de Tolosa southern Spain 1212–50 Silk tapestry-weave with gilt parchment 10'9 ⅞" X 7'2 ⅝" Detail of center panel
Qur’an frontispiece (right half of two-page spread) c Cairo, Egypt Ink, pigments, and gold on paper 24 X 18"
16th century Medallion Rug, variant Star Ushak style Wool Anatolia (present-day Turkey) 10'3" X 7'6 ¼"
a. Kilim weaving pattern used in flat-weaving, b. Symmetrical knot, used extensively in Iran, c. Asymmetrical knot, used extensively in Turkey