Explore: Apr 11, 2008 # 157.
Lahore, Pakistan. Detail from a panel on the entrance gate of the beautiful Mughal period Wazir Khan Mosque (built 1634).

Dedicated to Hadi, Nima Shafaieh's father. See below.

Tags:   Wazir Khan Mosque Lahore Punjab Pakistan Mughal Islamic Persian Arabic SirCam Nima Hadi

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Salobrena, Spain. Contemporary use of Islamic geometric patterns in the Costa Tropical town of Salobrena in Andalucia. The Moorish / Muslim influence of such works is on extensive public display in this area.

Tags:   Spain Andalucia Salobrena Costa Tropical Islamic geometric patterns Moorish Arab Muslim SirCam

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The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is one of the major legacies of Muslim rule in Spain. Such was its influence that you find loads of places named Alhambra and even Granada. Even cars: take the Seat Alhambra or the old Ford Granada. As I've emphasised repeatedly, the Islamic eight point star is a very common feature of the decorations here. Islamic geometric patterns here are the best in the whole Islamic world, I think. Here you have the star at the heart of the patterns. The additional feature is the inclusion of another Islamic speciality: Arabic calligraphy. This one is just the oft-repeated motto of the Nasirid rulers, "Wa la ghalib il-Allah" or Only God is the Victor. (Note the blue theme with the previous Cambridge Blues series:-)

Tags:   Spain Alhambra Granada Islamic Moors Muslims Arabs Arabic Calligraphy eightpointstar patterns geometric

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The garden was a major ornament and recreational place in the Islamic scheme of things. From the Mughals in India (eg Shalimar Gardens in Lahore) to the Moors of Spain (eg Alhambra and Generalife in Granada). Muslims tried to recreate a sort of heaven on earth. The Arabic 'jannah' means garden or heaven. Here we have a photo of the world-famous Court of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) at the Alhambra, Granada. We have a garden in the centre (btw, not exactly as it was during Islamic rule) surrounded by truely amazing rooms (eg Sala de los Abencerrajes). This, the innermost part of the Alhambra, excels in Islamic calligraphy, designs and patterns like no where else in the world. One view, which I am inclined to share with some reservations, is that this was a madrassa or Islamic educational institution. Going by the brilliance of Islamic geometric work here, I'd say this was the work of highly skilled Sufi's or Muslim mystics!

Tags:   Spain Granada Alhambra Moors Muslims Arabs Islamic IslamicGarden CourtoftheLions PatiodelosLeones garden

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Explore: January 24, 2008, #240.

Mezquita de Granada. Detail from the new mosque in Granada, Spain. The artist has adopted the calligraphic style and motto of the Nasirids, the Muslim rulers of the city until 1492, but not, sadly, the eight pointed star that is so common in the Alhambra. The Arabic is "Wa la ghaliba illa Allah" or "There is no Victor except God".

Tags:   Spain Andalucia Granada Alhambra Moorish Muslim Islamic Arabic calligraphy Wa la ghaliba illa Allah Victor God star eight pointed diagonal mosque mezquita SirCam kuwaitartphoto kuwaitphoto kuwaitart artphoto

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