Umayyad Cultural Expressions

Concepts:

Centrality

Eclecticism

Synthesis

Pre-Islamic Cultural & Political Spheres: The Byzantine & Sasanian Empires; North & South Arabian cultures; the Roman Empire

The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem. Patron: Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik, 691

Interior

Mosaics

Mosaics from DR & Byzantine Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem); Sassanian type dirham. How are these

related?

Dome of the Rock, plan and section

Building type: Martyrium or Ciborium

Centralized plan/circular design Commemorative Function:

Memorializes a person, object, or place & event

Emphatic function: Draws attention to the importance of the center & any object,

person, etc. located there

Ciborium plan (DR) & Courtyard Hypostyle Mosque (Damascus Mosque) plan

How does directionality work in each case? How does the plan support function?

The Great Umayyad Mosque of DamascusCaliph Walid I, completed 715

How is visibility achieved in the city?

Courtyard (arcades: arches, columns, piers; clerestory), tripartite triumphal

entrance to prayer hall

Hypostyle Prayer hall

Interior with mihrab, minbar & maqsura

Roman & Umayyad Architecture

Damascus Mosque Mosaic panel & mosaics from a Byzantine Church