medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
A Google search came up with a book:
Geometric Patterns from Islamic Art and Architecture (paperback) by Robert
Field
and a site which looked interesting and also has a few links:
www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/geom/hd_geom.htm
Geometry is very important in Islamic architecture which developed much
about the same time as eg fan-vaulting in Western architecture - mid 13th
century onwards if Gloucester is anything to go by. Robert Byron in The
Road to Oxiana comments on this but can't remember exactly where. He makes
a comparison between fan-vaulting and pendetives and the Islamic
"stalactites" which are basically minute arches built up into a curved Y
formation in the corners of cube shaped buildings which support the dome of
a mosque. There are many 13th and 14th century examples of these buildings
through Central Asia often built as mausoleums but now in a precarious
state.
Islamic scholars were keen astronomers. I've been to see what remains of
the Ulug Beg Observatory at Samarkand which dates from 1420. All that is
left is the part of the giant marble sextant and evidence of a solar clock.
However, it is known that the observatory was based on others which were at
least a century older. Measurements were surprisingly accurate. Perhaps
the astronomy influenced the art and explains some of the star-like
geometric patterns.
The Ottoman Turks based their mosques on the principles of Greek church
architecture - domes and half-domes surmounting cubes forming a cross with
arms of equal length, etc. It is said that Suleiyman the Magnificent was
obsessed with Haghia Sophia and his great architect Sinan was ordered to
create similar. However, there are much older mosques in small towns in
southern Turkey in which geometric patterns as decoration appear to be quite
important. Possibly it replaces the figurative in a stylised way. I
developed a fascination for these mosques while on a trip with my Mum to see
the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia with a very evangelical Christian
group who were horrified and regarded me sadly as something of a reprobate.
There's also a coffee table book published by (?) Phaidon which has some
fantastic and detailed illustrations of Islamic Art and Architecture -
"Isfahan is half the world" and all that. Could be out of print now but
occasionally seen in second-hand book shops
-----Original Message-----
From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious
culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of George
FERZOCO
Sent: 27 February 2007 10:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [M-R] guide to use of geometric patterns in Islamic design
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear medieval-religion colleagues,
Although I am incredibly challenged with regard to mathematics, I
like pretty design when I see it, so I was drawn to look at an
illustrated article in today's New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/science/27math.html
This begins:
'In the beauty and geometric complexity of tile mosaics on walls of
medieval Islamic buildings, scientists have recognized patterns
suggesting that the designers had made a conceptual breakthrough in
mathematics beginning as early as the 13th century. A new study shows
that the Islamic pattern-making process, far more intricate than the
laying of one's bathroom floor, appears to have involved an advanced
math of quasi crystals, which was not understood by modern scientists
until three decades ago.'
I'm not asking anyone to explain the concept of quasi crystals, but I
would like to know of an article or book that ***simply*** explains
the obvious fascination for geometric patterns visible in medieval
Islamic art and architecture: any suggestions?
Thanks, George
--
George FERZOCO
[log in to unmask]
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