Islamic Art Chapter 13 Lesson Two

The Koran (Qur’an) The holy scriptures of Islam Read right to left Decorative script used to record Muhammad’s revelations, laws, and moral stories

Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain Mosque: Muslim place of worship Exterior features: ◦Sealed arch entries ◦ an attached Minaret  Used by Muezzin (prayer caller) to summon people to worship 5 times a day ◦ sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset, evening

Mezquita (cont.) Interior (inside wall): ◦Courtyard named “Patio of the Orange Trees” arranged in rows leading to the building entrance ◦Rows of marble columns continue inside the building

The Mosque Interior features of the building, as you enter: ◦Rows of polished marble columns ◦Arches decorated with yellow and red bands are supported by the columns ◦Piers support second tier of arches 3 ft above the first tier ◦Aisles: arches guide worshipers to the side facing Mecca

Walls and ceilings decorated with calligraphy, geometric patterns (tessellations), stylized plants and flowers Ornate dome covers the area in front of the Mihrab Mezquita interior features (cont.)

Mihrab: niche in the wall indicating direction of Mecca ◦Most important feature Decorated w/delicate stucco reliefs incorporating passages from the Koran

The Mosque Interior features (cont.): Arches near Mihrab = more ornate and in a creamy white/dark brown color

The Alhambra - Granada, Spain Justice Gate: ◦well-fortified entrance to area where tribunals met to deal with thieves ◦Keystone of outer arch features a great open hand. ◦Keystone of inner arch features a key

The Alhambra, cont. Court of Lions ◦at the heart of the Alhambra ◦Named for fountain at the center decorated with carved lions

Dome of the Alhambra

Illustrated Manuscripts Artists free to depict images not permitted in Mosques Manuscripts featured scenes from everyday life ◦Banquets, trysts, hunting scenes, etc.

Illustrated Manuscripts (cont.) Decorative patterns and intense color are more important than realism Delicate flowing lines used to draw figures Lack of shading results in flat figures Wide range of bright contrasting colors balanced with small areas of rich color

The Meeting of the Theologians ◦By Abd Allah Musawwir ◦Depicts scenes from both inside and outside the mosque.