The Art of Islam Oct. 13, 2011

I. Introduction: art and religion

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, opening Nov. 1, 2011

II. Introduction to Islam

Abraham and his son Isaac, Ravenna, Church of San Vitale, 547, mosaic

Muhammad and Islam Muhammad, the Prophet, CE in Mecca Qur’an (sometimes spelled Koran), was revealed to Muhammad in approximately 23 years between CE In 622 CE Muhammad fled Mecca with his followers and went to Medina, a desert oasis This event the Hegira marks the beginning of the His followers returned and conquered Mecca in 630 By Muhammad’s death the Arabian tribes were united and had joined Islam

Qur’an. 9 th or 10 th Century

Islam Islam and Muslim come from words meaning submission to the will of Allah (God) Islam is emphatically monotheistic Five pillars of Islam 1 The testimony 2. Daily prayer 3 Fasting during Ramadan 4 Almsgiving 5 A pilgrimage to Mecca Hadj Also observance of moral code in the Qur’an

Kaa’ba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia,

III. The Dome of the Rock and Haram al-Sharif

Jerusalem, Western Wall, wall of the foundation of the second Temple 19 B.C.E. Dome of the Rock, Haram el Sharif, late 7th century

Jerusalem, Dome of the Rock, late 7 th century

Tile, Kashan, 13 th century

Jerusalem, Western Wall, wall of the foundation of the second Temple 19 B.C.E. Dome of the Rock, Haram el Sharif, late 7th century

Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, Israel, plan and reconstruction of the Constantinian church, ca. 325

Domes of the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, 326

IV. Ceramics and Textiles

Dish, Iran, 10 th century

Bowl, earthenware,

Ceramic tile with an Arabic inscription, Iran, 1215

Ardabil carpet, Iran,

Ardibil Carpet, Iran

Mosque lamp, glass, gilded and enamelled glass, Syria or Egypt c. 1360

V. The Great Mosque of Cordoba

Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain begun 786, Umayyad, Caliphate

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, late 7 th century, Umayyad Caliphate

Qu’ran which has blood (purportedly Uthman’s) on its pages

Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain begun 786, Umayyad, Caliphate

Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain begun 786, Ummayyad, Caliphate, hypostyle hall

Plan of the Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisia, ca

Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain begun 786, Umayyad, Caliphate

Marble capital from the great Mosque at Cordoba, 10 th century

Mihrab niche which identifies the qibla wall (direction of Mecca and the Kaa’ba), Great Mosque at Cordoba, 965

Dome in front of the mihrab niche, Great Mosque at Cordoba, 965

Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain begun 786, Umayyad, Caliphate

Stained glass, Notre Dame, Cathedral of Reims, France,

Great Mosque at Cordoba, Spain begun 786, Umayyad, Caliphate Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, late 7 th century, Umayyad Caliphate

Cathedral of Cordoba, inside the mosque of Cordoba, 15 th Century