ch.13 Islam part I

Question 1

The Kabba

Answer 1

• Pre-Islamic monument (pagan until muhammed)
• granite masonry, silk curtain and gold/silver thread
• Mecca, Saudi Arabia
• holy rock inside, likely a meteorite
• hypostyle design (open space held up by columns)
• surrounded by minarets
• circumambulate for worship (circle around)

Question 2

Dome of the Rock

Answer 2

• Islamic Umayyad Caliphate
• stone masonry and wooden roof with ceramic tile and mosaic
• Jerusalem
• bare mountain top inside
• geometric, plant and calligraphy decor no ppl
• octagon shape (San Vitale)
• central plan, domed (Byzantine influence)
• oldest example of using Quran decor
• circumambulated

Question 3

Great Mosque

Answer 3

• Umayyad Caliphate
• stone masonry
• Córdoba, Spain
• commissioned: Umayyad caliph
• conquered by Christians became church
• Christians added a basilica
• hypostyle mosque
• has an atrium with orange and date trees
• mineret tower became bell tower
• original dome
• lower dome is above the mihrab (focus point)
• doors have geometric reliefs and horseshoe arches above
• spolia columns inside double horseshoe arches on top, parallel arches

Question 4

Pyxis of al-Mughira

Answer 4

• Umayyid Caliphate
• ivory (elephant tusk)
• owned by al-Mughira
• cosmetics and perfume (personal)
• deep relief
• non-religious shows people
• showed caliph’s power
• 1st: shows men grabbing falcon eggs for falconing
• 2nd: shows a man playing the lute flanked by 2 men with symbols of the caliphates
• 3rd: lions eating boars
• 4th: two men on horses picking dates

Question 5

Golden Haggadah (Plagues of Egypt, Scenes of Liberation, an Preparation for Passover)

Answer 5

• Late Midieval Spain
• illuminated manuscript with pigments and gold leaf on vellum
• recounts the liberation of Jews
• Jewish Art
• Christian influence
• mideval European looking people
• 3 scenes:
   - Liberation: red sea, Pharoah army
   - Plagues: frogs, boils, animals
   - Passover: women cleaning/dancing, food

Question 6

Alhambra

Answer 6

• Nasirid Dynasty
• whitewashed adobe stucco, wood, tile, paint, and gilding
• Granada, Spain (pomegranate)
• “red fort”
• muqarna: multi-faceted carvings on ceiling
• series of buildings
• Christians added buildings
• surrounded by mountains
• many fountains (water luxurious for sand ppl)
• aromatic plants
• not religious, palace, has animals depictions
• Court of the Lions (horseshoe arches, water channels)