Islamic architecture and art

[TheMagnificent]

The term Islamic architecture is used to refer to the architecture of buildings that have a relationship with Islam or that emanate from the Islamic culture. It concerns both buildings with a religious function as a worldly function.
The mosque, the fortress, the palace and the tomb are some examples of structures that are common in Islamic architecture.
Since the beginning of Islam in the 7th century, Islam has spread throughout the world. The core of the Islamic civilization is the Middle East, but the area where Islam is the predominant religion, extends from Morocco in the west to China and Indonesia in the east.
Islamic architecture has combined elements in all these parts of the world. Traditional influences on Islamic architecture are the cultures of ancient Greece, the Byzantine Empire and its early Christian architecture, the Persian Empire with Zoroastrianism and the cultures of India and China. In turn, Islamic architecture had an influenced in these areas, for example the influence of Moorish architecture in Spain and Sicily.

Some concepts in Islamic architecture are as follows: Bazaar, Caravanserai, Dar al-Shifa, Hamam, Howz, Hussainia, Iwan, Kasbah, Khanegah, Ksar, Külliye, Madrasa, Medina, Mihrab, Minaret, Minbar, Mosque, Muqarnas, Qibla, Ribat, Sahn, Türbe, Windcatcher.

Islamic art is art that is made mostly by Muslims and/or that has Islamic themes. Examples of Islamic art can be found in various art forms such as sculpture, painting, architecture, calligraphy and textile art. Familiar examples are mosaics and murals.

Some examples of Islamic architecture and art:

Si-o-se Pol (Bridge of 33 Arches), a nice example of Safavid bridge design in Isfahan, Iran


Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah (Dome of the Rock), Jerusalem


Dome of the Rock, interior


Dome of the Rock, interior


Dome of the Rock, interior


Registan, a public square at heart of the ancient city of Samarkand of the Timurid dynasty, now in Uzbekistan, with its three madrasas (from left to right: Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Tilya-Kori Madrasa and Sher-Dor Madrasa)


Tiger on the Sher-Dor Madrasa iwan


Sher-Dor Madrasa


Tilya-Kori Madrasa, interior


Tilya-Kori Madrasa, interior


Tilya-Kori Madrasa


Taj Mahal (Crown of Palaces), the white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, that was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal


Taj Mahal complex, walkways beside reflecting pool


Taj Mahal complex, interior of the mosque


Taj Mahal, calligraphy on the walls

[TheMagnificent]

Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain, that was constructed during the mid 10th century by the Umaid Arabic ruler Badis ben Habus of the Kingdom of Granada in Al-Andalus


Alhambra, the Court of the Lions


Alhambra, interior


Alhambra, interior


Alhambra, interior


Alhambra, interior


Alhambra, fountains in one of the gardens


Blagaj Tekke, a Sufi monastery (built around 1520) that stands by the source of the Buna river, not far from the centre of Blagaj, Mostar municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina


Blagaj Tekke


Divriği Ulu Camii ve Darüşşifası (Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital), mosque and medical complex built in 1228-1229 in the small eastern Anatolian mountain town of Divriği (now in Sivas Province in Turkey), on the order of Ahmet Shah, ruler of the Mengüçlü Beylik


Divriği Great Mosque, interior


Divriği Great Mosque, portal of the Darüşşifa


Selimiye Camii (Selimiye Mosque), an Ottoman mosque in the city of Edirne, Turkey, that was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and was built by architect Sinan between 1569 and 1575


Selimiye Mosque, interior


Selimiye Mosque, interior

[TheMagnificent]

I will post more examples of Islamic architecture and art later on. Everyone can contribute to this thread, but please refrain from trolling.

[Sultan Suleiman]

An awesome thread.

I love the Iranic architecture, I just wish that there were more building built in that fashion rather than in neo-Byzantine/Ottoman architecture which is just booooooooooooooring.

[Onur]

The central Asian, early Seljuk Anatolian and northern Indian Turkic islamic architecture was inspired from Iranian style. You can see that the mosques and all other buildings in Samarkand, today`s Uzbekistan and Pakistani/Indian reflects same style.

I would like to ask you a question about which christian country later adopted this central Asian and northern Indian Turkic islamic architecture afterwards. Take a look at these pictures;

Seljuk era, Turkey;


Moghul/Babur era, India;


Timur era, Uzbekistan;



Now tell me which christian country adopted this style. It should be easy to answer

[Partizan]

The central Asian, early Seljuk Anatolian and northern Indian Turkic islamic architecture was inspired from Iranian style. You can see that the mosques and all other buildings in Samarkand, today`s Uzbekistan and Pakistani/Indian reflects same style.

I would like to ask you a question about which christian country later adopted this central Asian and northern Indian Turkic islamic architecture afterwards. Take a look at these pictures;

Seljuk era, Turkey;


Moghul/Babur era, India;


Timur era, Uzbekistan;



Now tell me which christian country adopted this style. It should be easy to answer

?

[TheMagnificent]

Yes, Russian architecture seems to have some similar domes.

[TheMagnificent]

Masjed-e Imam (Imam Mosque), formerly known as Shah Mosque, built during the Safavid period in Isfahan, Iran


Naqsh-e Jahan Square


Imam Mosque


Imam Mosque


Imam Mosque, interior


Imam Mosque, interior


Imam Mosque, interior


Imam Mosque, interior


Imam Mosque, interior


Imam Mosque, interior


Imam Mosque


Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, also on Naqsh-e Jahan Square


Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque


Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, interior


Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, interior

[Partizan]

Stop those trolling/off-topic posts!

[TheMagnificent]

Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa, a massive Mamluk era mosque and madrasa located near the Citadel in Cairo, Egypt


Sultan Hassan Mosque


Sultan Hassan Mosque


Sultan Hassan Mosque, interior


Sultan Hassan Mosque, interior


Aqmar Mosque, a Fatimid era mosque in Cairo, Egypt


Aqmar Mosque


Aqmar Mosque


Aqmar Mosque, interior


Al-Muizz Street in Cairo, Egypt, with some magnificent medieval Islamic architecture


Al-Muizz Street, Sultan Barquq Mosque and Madrasa


Sultan Barquq Mosque and Madrasa


Sultan Barquq Mosque and Madrasa, interior


Sultan Barquq Mosque and Madrasa, interior


Sultan Barquq Mosque and Madrasa, interior