ISLAMIC MOSQUE ARCHITECTURE

ablaq

alternating bands of colored stones in islamic masonry

rib vault

cross ribs act together with outer frame to create complete armature of arches along the edges and main fold of the vault

qiblah

direction of mecca

muqarnas

layers of pendentives and squinches

minarets

light house or slim tower, call to prayer

mihrab

prayer niche

kufic script

rectangular intertwined lettering used to decorate islamic religious buildings

dome of the rock

~ Jerusalem 690 ~ built by byzantine architect and mosaic artist from Constantinople ~ oldest islamic building to survive ~ built over sacred stone ~ ribbed and braced dome

key features

~ no central ritual center ~ built to accommodate as many worshipers as possible ~ emphasis on the horizontal ~ face mecca ~ no images, no people ~ direction of mecca marked by niche

islamic ornamentation

~ sacred geometry ~ no human representation ~ ordered repetition ~ rhythmic pattern ~ columns, piers, and arches interwoven