Islamic Architecture Comparison Essay Example

terms of their design in a sense of the building as a whole and in the detail of the art on and in the structures.

One difference from what i noticed is that the Taj does not use any type of Greco-Roman style pillars unlike the Dome of the Rock. Another difference is that the main building in the center has a square shape with a huge middle arch on each side. Where as the Dome of the Rock is an octagonal shape and has only one main entrance with many small arches. Both instances are very congruent of Islamic art but are also different in the style of the arches, with the Dome of the Rock having a rounded arch and the Taj having a more pointed tipped arch.

Now their respective regions of where they were built are in India for the Taj Mahal and in Jerusalem for the Dome of the Rock. With this information we can conclude that they are definitely separate in terms of the style of the region. For the Taj, India would be considered eastern Islamic architecture and for the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem would be considered central Islamic architecture. What this means is the style of where they originated were incorporated into the buildings themselves.

The materials used to create these wonders are certainly very different and reflect the era they came from. The Taj Mahal is almost completely made out of white marble which was a highly prized resource and was used as a show of wealth and beauty. The Dome of the Rock on the other hand is made of many

more materials. The dome is all wooden and stands on stone pillars, with the outer walls being made of porcelain. Not what we would consider a quality material today, but that is completely subjective and they used what they believed was appropriate for the time.

The Taj Mahal was built for the sole purpose of being the final resting place for the deceased queen Mumtaz Mahal. Today it serves as a mere tourist attraction for domestics and foreigners alike. The Dome of the Rock is completely different in its purpose and has a very colorful history. It was built to replace a previously destroyed temple with its main purpose as a mosque for Muslims to pray in. It has since gone through much hardship mainly including hostile takeovers which was used a beacon of power against their enemies.

Overall the significance in these two examples of Islamic art is truly amazing and it undoubtedly shows that the history of the architecture is solidified as such a distinct style and unique form that no matter when or where it comes from, it stays true to its origin. I feel that Islamic art speaks to a certain meaning that is more than just what we can see. You have to bring oneself to a specific apex or somewhat of an overlapping parallel if one wishes to not only see what it means to you, but to feel what it means.