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Architecture

Author: Sophia

what's covered
For many cultural traditions, the architecture of a region has historically been linked to its religion and the construction of its religious places, such as places of worship, sacred spaces, and intentional spaces. In this lesson, you will see the link between religion and architecture. Specifically, this lesson will cover:

Table of Contents

1. Sacred Architecture

Throughout the cultural histories of religions, the style of churches, mosques, stupas, synagogues, and temples has developed. It has great value for the respective faiths. While a particular style of architecture might reveal cultural changes, usually the religious significance remains constant. Many cultures devoted considerable resources to their sacred architecture and places of worship.

Sacred architecture spans several ancient architectural styles, from the ancient architecture of the Mayans in what is now Latin America to the ancient classical architecture of Greece and Rome, as well as the refined classical architecture of Asia. It is categorized as Byzantine, Gothic, et cetera.

El Castillo (Pyramide des Kukulcán) in Chichén Itzá, Mexico
El Castillo (Pyramide des Kukulcán) in Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Parthenon, Athens Greece. Photo taken in 1978.
Parthenon, Athens Greece. Photo taken in 1978.

2. Mosques

The most important structure in the religion of Islam is the mosque. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also called the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey, was built in the 17th century. It’s an example of a combination of styles: the Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church. This blending of styles is not uncommon and is an interesting way to note the historical moments of religious tolerance, overlap, and exchange.

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

Many forms of mosques have developed in different regions of the world. Notable mosques include the early Abbasid mosques, T-type mosques, and the central dome mosques of Anatolia.

A common feature in mosques is the minaret. This tall, slender tower, which is used to call Muslims to prayer, usually is situated at one of the corners of the mosque’s structure. If a mosque has a minaret, it is always the highest point of the building. It’s also the highest point in the immediate area. One can therefore see and hear the call to prayer, the Adhan, from a long way off.

Example of a minaret on The Great Mosque of Testour in Tunisia
Example of a minaret on The Great Mosque of Testour in Tunisia

Prayer halls contain no images of people, animals, or spiritual figures. They may be decorated with Arabic calligraphy and verses from the Qur’an on the walls. The first mosques had no minarets. Even nowadays, the most conservative Islamic movements, such as Wahhabis, avoid building minarets, seeing them as ostentatious and unnecessary. Domes have been a hallmark of Islamic architecture.

The prayer hall, also known as the musalla, has no furniture, chairs, or pews. They’re absent from the prayer hall to avoid distraction. The simplicity of the space allows for a more dedicated worship. A musalla also does not need to be inside a mosque. Any clean and open space can serve as a space for prayer.

Great Mosque of Xi'an, China
Great Mosque of Xi'an, China

terms to know
Mosque or Masjid
A Muslim place of worship.
Minaret
The tall, slender tower that usually is situated at one of the corners of the mosque structure.
Musalla
A prayer hall within an Islamic house of worship.

3. Hindu Temples

On the other end of the spectrum are Hindu temples. In Hinduism, temples are busy with images and statues of gods, hanging mandalas, incense, candles, et cetera.

A sanctum inside the Hoysaleshwara temple in Halebidu, India
A sanctum inside the Hoysaleshwara temple in Halebidu, India

summary
Sacred architecture spans many different styles and goes back as far as the religions do themselves. While cultural changes occur, generally the religious significance of sacred architecture remains the same. You looked at mosques and their different elements: the minaret and the musalla. You also looked briefly at Hindu temples, which are busy with statues and mandalas.

Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY TED FAIRCHILD FOR SOPHIA LEARNING. Please see our Terms of Use.