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| Mosques |
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Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol.
2, p. 165. |
Mosque of the Tekiyeh,
or Hospice of the Sultan Selim
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The designs of mosques vary considerably, especially if they are built to
contain the founder's tomb; but the fundamental idea is always the same-an open
court surrounded by a covered cloister-and the main variation consists in
converting the four cloistered sides into four deep transepts . . . resulting in
a cruciform interior, whilst the squares left between the four transepts are
filled up by additional chambers, schools, fountains, &c. (Source: Picturesque Palestine, vol. 4, pp. 152-53.) |
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Mosque of Amr's Interior |
Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, p. 69. |
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In either case, whether the court be
surrounded by cloisters with double rows of
columns supporting pointed arches on which the
heavy carved beams of the flat ceiling rest,
or by four transepts with vaulted roofs and
only one grand arch to each, the cloister or
transept to the east (i.e. towards Mekkah) is
deeper than the other three, has more than two
rows of columns, or is separated by a carved
screen from the court. This is the sanctuary (lîwân).
(Source: Picturesque Palestine, vol. 4, pp.
153-54.) |
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Source: Picturesque Palestine, vol. 4, p.
146. |
Pulpit of the Tomb-Mosque
of Barkuk |
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The floor is raised, and on it the worshippers
prostrate themselves, with their faces turned
to the niche (mihrâb) in the centre of the
east wall, which marks the kibleh or direction
of Mekkah. This niche is generally the chief
point for decoration; it is usually
constructed of inlaid marble and
mother-of-pearl, and framed with exquisite
borders of Arabic inscriptions. On the right
of the niche is the pulpit, a staircase
generally constructed of geometrically
panelled wood, inlaid with ivory and adorned
with inscriptions. Near the front of the
sanctuary is the platform, resting on dwarf
columns, generally very plain and simple,
where the Koran is read aloud. (Source: Picturesque Palestine, vol. 4, p. 154.) |
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Tomb of Sultan Barkuk |
Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, p. 63. |
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If there is a founder's tomb, it is
generally behind or at the side of the
sanctuary; and as a rule over it, or over the
sanctuary, rises the dome, which, though
borrowed from the Byzantines, has been so
completely naturalised as to form the most
characteristic feature in Arabian
architecture. Perhaps the bulb-shaped dome
reminded the Arabs of their primæval tent, and
the minaret recalled the palm-tree up which
the first muëddin clomb to chant the call to
prayer. The minarets rise from the corners of
the cloisters or near the portal of the
cruciform mosque, but their position, like
their number, is very variable. The exterior
of a mosque is either quite plain or slightly
decorated with mouldings and inscriptional
friezes, and sometimes the whole building is
enclosed by a brick wall and outer courts to
isolate the devotions of the people from the
noises outside. (Source: Picturesque Palestine, vol. 4, pp. 154-55.) |
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See Arabs,
Bedouin,
Muslim Customs,
Muslim Religious Practices, or Cairo |
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