Top 10 lesser known Islamic architecture from around the world __________________________________________________ 1/10 Great Mosque of Samarra, Samarra, Iraq; 847-861 AD: Although this structure may be known to most, the Great Mosque of Samarra is still a significant contribution to global Islamic architecture. The 9th century mosque was built by Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil. The most remarkable element of this mosque is its minaret, the Malwiya Tower, a vast cone that spirals 52m high and is 33m wide. Consisting of 17 aisles, the walls of the mosque are covered with blue glass mosaics. 2/10 Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India; 11th century: The Agra Fort is the lesser known sister monument of the famous Taj Mahal and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It features a brick fort with a semicircular layout with walls that are seventy feet high. The structure won the 2004 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. 3/10 The Alhambra, Granada, Spain; 1338-1390: Originally designed by Ibn Al Ahmar, the palace in Granada consists of a series of courtyards surrounded by rooms. The structure of the palace uses elements Moorish Islamic architecture through its use of columns, arches and domes. The palace has remarkable slender columnar arcades, fountains as well as light reflecting water basins in its courtyards. 4/10 Chili Kiosk, Islanbul, Turkey; 1473: Although located in Turkey, the kiosk was designed by a Persian architect and features a glazed faience, a square ground plan and an arcaded entrance. The structure has an elaborately arranged ribbed vaults and a central dome. 5/10 Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali Djenne, Mali; 1907: Considered one of the greatest achievements of Islamic architecture, it was the first mosque on site in Djenne, Mali and is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa today. The walls of the structure are made from sun-baked earth brick that was coated with plaster. 6/10 The Great Mosque of Xian, Shaanxi Province, China; 742 A.D.: China has some of the worlds most beautiful mosques but the Great Mosque of Xian is the oldest. It was established in 742 A.D. but was built and renovated at later periods. It is characterised by its Arabic lettering and decorations and unlike most Islamic structures, does not feature any domes or traditional minarets. 7/10 Tomb of Jahangir, Lahore, Pakistan; 1605: The mausoleum built by Jahangir is made of red stone, marble and bricks. It has two massive gateways made of stone and masonry situated opposite each other and platform with a tall, octagonal tower. It also has a projecting entrance in the middle of each side, 8/10 Fortress of Al-Ukhaidir, Karbala, Iraq; 775-756: More commonly known as the Abbasid Palace of Ukhaidir in Karbala, this rectangular fortress represents Abbasid architectural innovations particularly in terms of the courtyard structures as well as ones of the residences and mosque. The fortress features a primary hall, a big Iwan and a servants headquarters. 9/10 Siosepol Bridge, Esfahan, Iran; 1599-1602: Ranked as one of the most famous examples of Safavid bridge design, the bridge, also known as the Allah-Verdi Bridge, consists of 33 arches. It crosses the Sayandeh River. 10/10 Great Mosque of Kairouan, Kairouan, Tunisia; 670 A.D.: Considered one of the most important mosques in Tunisia, it is also known as the Mosque of Uqba. It is one of the oldest places of worship and features a hypostyle prayer hall, a marble-paved courtyard and a square minaret.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 18:12:40 +0000
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