Islamic ArtNatural Curiosity Reflected in the Arts

DISCLAIMER

This presentation is an overview of the material in your text. It is not comprehensive, nor is it meant to be. This presentation allows you to introduce yourself to concepts and images in the respective chapter. Best practice says to view this presentation with your book open, as many of the images in this presentation are small or incomplete.

Guiding Questions

• How do you reflect religious belief without narratives (unlike Christian and Jewish artists)?

• How does an interest in natural sciences and observation affect the religious arts?

Prayer Hall, Great Mosque, Cordoba,

Spain

Where in the world are we?

The Islamic Empire will surpass the geographic extent of the Roman empire. That is impressive given the land mass that the Roman ruled. Delve into your text to see how the Islamic caliphs and dynasties achieved such success. Could it be because they were interested in gaining knowledge from various customs and cultures?

Guiding Historical Events

• Abraham has a son with his servant, Hagar, and he names him Ishmael. Together they build a shrine to the monotheistic Creator at Mecca—the same Creator worshipped by Christians and Jews

• In 610, Mohammed begins writing the Qur'an, meaning recitations. He finishes in 623. It is considered the first time God, Allah in Arabic, spoke his words in Arabic to an Arabic people

• The Umayyads establish the first Muslim dynasty in 661 and rule from their capital in Damascus, Syria

• The Ottomans capture Byzantine Constantinople in 1453 The Kabah, Mecca,

Saudi Arabia

Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahadah--proclamation of the monotheistic Creator--God

• Salat--prayer five times a day

• Zakah--voluntary giving

• Sawm--fasting during the month of Ramadan (as determined by lunar, ceremonial calendar)

• Hajj--pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime if physically and financially able

Maliwiya Minaret,

Sammarra, Iraq

Contributions of Arabic Culture, to name a few

• The number zero

• Soap for personal hygiene (Christians at the time do not bathe for fear that they will tempt evil, lust, and the devil into their homes)

• Preservation of Greek and Roman philosophical texts (which Christians destroy but will later translate and reconcile with Christian doctrines)

Hall of the Two Sisters, The Alhambra, Grenada,

Spain

Triumph of Islam reflected in architecture Newgrange, Ireland

Self Study:What have Islamic leaders adopted from Roman and Christian architecture? What have they chosen to do differently as they try to distinguish themselves from pagan and Christian culture?

The site on which the Dome of the Rock sits is

important to all three monotheistic religions,

and so is an appropriate location to place an

architecture that shows triumph.

In Islam: Rock from which Mohammed

ascended to the Heavens in his Night Journey

In Christianity and Judaism:

Burial site of Adam, theslab on which Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac,

and the site of the destroyed Temple of

Solomon.

Dome of the Rock,

Jerusalem

Architecture as Religious Expression

• The interior hypostyle hall and exterior columns are meant to remind believers of the olive trees Mohammed preached in front of

• The interior prayer hall is arranged in rows to organize communal prayer

• The ablution fountain the courtyard is vital for ritual washing before entering sacred space

Great Mosque, Damascus, Syria

Elements of the Islamic Mosque

Maqsura

Minbar

Mihrab

Self Study:Look over these elements as you read about them in your text.

Minaret

Qibla Wall

Christian Parallels

• The mihrab is similar to the Apse, but does not hold an altar or imagery of anything living

• The minbar is similar to the Christian pulpit. The Imam reads from the minbar texts of the Qur'an

• The maqsura is akin to the stage or choir in the Christian church. Tis is a space reserved for important figures, I.e. royalty

• The qibla wall faces Mecca and is like the church that is directed to ward the cardinal point of East, the direction of the rising sun, and so Christ

• The minaret is like a Christian lantern tower or steeple

Tile Work in Islamic Decoration• Meant to

reflect the beauty of Paradise and of Creation

• Often meant to imitate fabric

• Often high liter with Kufic, an abstracted Arabic script

Mosaic Mihrab, from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan,

IranIwan Muqarnas from

Royal Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

Baghdad Kiosk at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

In subsequent presentations, you will explore:

• The Dome of the Rock

• The mathematics of religious ornament