nonwestern artweek1
TRANSCRIPT
Pre-Islamic Cultural & Political Spheres: The Byzantine & Sasanian Empires; North & South Arabian cultures; the Roman Empire
Mosaics from DR & Byzantine Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem); Sassanian type dirham. How are these
related?
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