Muqarnas
Muqarnas are a form of architectural ornamented vaulting, the "geometric subdivision of a squinch, or cupola, or corbel, into a large number of miniature squinches, producing a sort of cellular structure", sometimes also called "honeycomb" vaults from their resemblance to these. They are used for domes, and especially half-domes in entrances and apses, mostly in traditional Islamic and Persian architecture. When some elements project downwards, the style may be called mocárabe; these are reminiscent of stalactites, and may be called "stalactite vaults".
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqarnas
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Ani | Gavit of the church of the holy apostles | |
| Arab-Norman Palermo | Cappella Palatina | |
| Armenian Monastic Ensembles | St Stepanos: a rather nice Muqarna above the entrance | |
| Bukhara | Several including the Kalyan Minaret | |
| Bursa and Cumalikizik | Grand Mosque ("The mihrab (niche symbolizing the direction of prayer), carved with a canopy of muqarnas, dates from 1572" wiki), also Green Mosque ("The door is crowned by a half-dome with a cascade of muqarnas" wiki) | |
| Cordoba | Cúpula de mocárabes, Sala de los Abencerrajes -Mezquita de Córdoba. | |
| Damascus | Nur al-Din Bimaristan | |
| Gonbad-e Qâbus | stalactites works (moqarnass) of the entrance (nom file) | |
| Granada | Alhambra | |
| Hill Forts of Rajasthan | Amber Fort | |
| Historic Cairo | Sultan Hassan Mosque: portal and mausoleum | |
| Humayun's Tomb | Dome | |
| Istanbul | Blue Mosque: "The transitions between the smaller exedrae and the supporting walls or arches are covered by muqarnas (stalactite-like sculpting) made of stucco." (wiki) | |
| Itchan Kala | Many of the famous wooden pillars are adorned with muqarnas capitals as well as the frieze of many halls in the Kunha Ark, Toshvoli palace and Pahlavan Mahmoud mausoleum) | |
| Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi | The intrados of the domes is decorated in alabaster stalactites (muqarnas). (AB ev) | |
| Medina of Fez | University of al-Qarawiyyin and others | |
| Medina of Marrakesh | Saadian Tombs: "The chamber is covered by a vault of very fine and intricate muqarnas (honeycomb or stalactite-like sculpting) made of stucco which retains a part of its polychrome painting in blue and gold" (wiki) | |
| Medina of Tunis | Kasbah Mosque: "Above and in front of the mihrab is a dome sculpted in intricate muqarnas (stalactite-like decoration). This decorative technique was common in more western regions of North Africa but the muqarnas dome of this mosque is almost unique in Ifriqiya (Tunisia) and was unparalleled in other Hafsid architecture" | |
| Meidan Emam, Esfahan | Shah Mosque | |
| Monastery of Geghard | Gavit | |
| Old City of Jerusalem | Madrasa al-Ashrafiyya | |
| Qutb Minar | ||
| Safi al-Din Ensemble in Ardabil | ||
| Samarkand | Shah-i-Zinda | |
| Selimiye Mosque | The entrance portal to the mosque's prayer hall has more typical muqarnas canopy (wiki) | |
| Seville | In the Salon de los Embajadores | |
| Soltaniyeh | ||
| Taj Mahal | At the domes | |
| Toledo | Capilla de santa catalina/muqarna dome in sala de la torre of the cathedral | |
| Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia | "wooden muqarnas (three-dimensional “honeycomb” Islamic decorations) .. form the capitals of columns" (AB ev) | |
| Yazd | Duvazdah Imam Mausoleum has one of the first muqarnas we know of |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Muqarnas?
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