The Evolution of the Shouldered Arch in Medieval Islamic Architecture

Bibliographic Data

ID9380654
AuthorsCamilla Edwards (corresponding author), David N Edwards (0000-0002-9480-4936), David Edwards (0000-0002-0383-8314), David J Edwards (0000-0001-9727-6000)
Year1999
Volume42
Pages68-68
Publication date1999-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchitectural History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0066-622X • E-ISSN: 2059-5670
PublisherCambridge University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2307/1568705
OpenAlexW2800795591
LanguageEN
References cited8

It is a general law of Islamic architecture that elements and features that evolved for a structural reason come, with the passage of time and refinement of the forms, to be transformed into decorative features; that is, non-structural embellishments or modifications of the forms begin to appear. The same process is common to other schools of architecture, but a specific characteristic of Islam has been its propensity to draw upon previous sources and to develop them as a specifically Islamic idiom or theme. It is also a characteristic of Islamic art that an ambiguity often remains as to whether certain forms were meant to be fully decorative or purely architectonic; there are many instances where they represent a mixture of the two. The shouldered arch is an interesting example of this characteristic evolutionary approach, and this paper reviews the chronology of its use and development in the areas most populated and influenced by the early expansion of Islam: Iran, Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Egypt. The study seeks to trace the development of the decorative form of the shouldered arch and its use as an articulating device, and to suggest the influences in its evolution. It focuses on the Saljuq (1040–1194) and Mongol or Ilkhanid (1220–1336) periods, while including mention of other contemporary dynasties and cultures of relevance

Ancient history · Arch · Archaeology · Art · Islam · Islamic Architecture · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Architecture · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Historical Studies of Medieval Iberia · History

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