Islamic Architecture
So far we have seen:
The Roman Arch
And
The Pointed Arch
Now we are going
to see:
The Horseshoe Arch
The materials that they used were poor.
Plaster:
(yeso)
Bricks:
(ladrillos)
Ceramics:
Nothing is eternal, only Allah
Remains
With these poor materials they were able to
create wonderful works of art with an exuberant
decoration:
They used the following types of decoration:
Geometrical Motifs
Calligraphic Motifs
Plant Motifs
Mosque of Cordoba
Mihrab
Palace of Medina Azahara
Alhambra
“Patio de los Arrayanes”
Court of the Lions
Mocarabe Dome
El Generalife
• What is the name of a typical Islamic Arch?
– Horseshoe Arch
• The materials that they used were rich or poor?
– They were poor
• Is the decoration exuberant?
– Yes, It is
• Do they usually represent images of people or
animals?
– No, they don’t
• Why?
– Because it is forbidden by the Koran.
• What three types of decoration are there?
– Geometrical motifs
– Plant motifs (ataurique)
– Calligraphic motifs (cúfica o nasjí)
• What is the name of the typical Islamic Domes?
– Caliphal Domes, whose ribs (nervios) don’t meet in the
centre.