Middle Eastern and Islamic Architecture

Isfahan, Iran.

Ilkhanid Mihrab from Isfahan. 1354/1355.

Mihrab. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Public Domain.

In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Macauley and Dr. Steven Zucker talk about this mihrab from the Madrasa Imami in Isfahan. The mihrab is now located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

In this article, Dr. Radha Dalal examines the Great Mosque of Isfahan for Smarthistory. Among the features you will find on mosques like Isfahan's mosque are muqarnas.

In this article, Zirrar Ali discusses muqarnas with a variety of photographs of different buildings with muqarnas for the website, Middle East Eye.

Damascus, Syria.

Damascus Room. c. 1707.

Damascus Room. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Public Domain.

In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Macauley-Lewis and Dr. Steven Zucker talk about the Damascus Room.

Bayt Farhi. Begun c. 1780.

Bayt Farhi. Smarthistory. Still from video.

In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Macauley and Dr. Steven Zucker examine Bayt Farhi, a Jewish house in the city of Damascus.

Spain and Morocco.

Columns from the Alhambra. 1350-1400.

These columns are from 14th century Spain and are now in the Moroccan Court inside of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In this video, the Met documents the process for creating the Moroccan Room. The room incorporates old Moorish structural artifacts with new structures created with traditional techniques.