Compare and Contrast - Research Paper Example

The Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain and the Mamluk Glass Oil Lamp. Islamic art is a term that describes art that is not only created particularly in Muslim faith service, for instance a music as well as the furnishings within it, however, it as well features the art and architecture historically made within the areas that Muslims ruled, produced by Muslim artists or even made for Muslim patrons. With Islamic art’s long history as well as geographical spread, the art became unavoidably subject to some wide variety of national and regional influences as well as styles and changes in different ages of its growth.

Even under such circumstances, the Islamic art has maintained its unique identity as well as intrinsic quality always. This paper is a comparison of two Islamic arts: The Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain and the Mamluk Glass Oil Lamp. Enameled as well as gilded glass lamps were custom-made in big numbers for most Cairo built mosques by Mamluk Sultans as well as their Amirs. Lamp donation was contemplated as respectful act towards God. Such an act connects to a Koran text that explains that God is the Heaven’s as well as Earth’s light.

This verse explains further that the light of God happens to resemble a niche within which one can find a lamp. This lamp is glass made while the glass resembles a brilliant star. The Mosque lamp also is decorated using bold encryption frieze that contains Sayf al-Din Shaykhu al-Nasiri’s names as well as title, also his heraldic device that joins a red cap is situated at the roundels center on the neck as well as the lamp’s underside. The wealth as well as influence of Shykhu made him a Cairo’s significant art as well as architecture patron (Over 11 Mosque lamps that are inscribed similarly.

It is most likely that these are from the mosque of Shaykhu at Citadel’s foot in Cairo that got completed in the year 1349 as well as taken as among its time’s finest (British Museum). The great Mosque of Cordoba which is as well known as Mezquita, is among the Islamic civilization Jewels. Unlike the malmuk lamps that were of the 14th century, the temple was began in during the 8th century by the Emir Abd al-Rahman I, in the year 745, added in the year 833 by  Abd al-Rahman II and in the 10th century ended by the Vizier al-Mansur and al-Hakam II.

The most decorative as well as striking of the 4 phases is the one by al-Hakam that contains the mirhab (niche within the wall that faces Mecca) ( Khan Academy). The great mosque’s growth was a symbol of the increasing power of the city and came in hand with population growth hence need for huge congregations’ accommodation. The mosque seems to sling low as if hugging the ground showing humility before the Lord that Muslim stands for a person whom surrenders to Allah’s will (Christopher L).

Comparing the two art works, it is clear that both were intended for worship of the Muslim God. However, the great Mosque of Cordoba shares a compound with a Christian Cathedral. Both arts are strong Islamic different periods created out of respect for God.ReferencesKhan Academy. Great Mosque of Cordoba from the Air. 2015. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/islamic-art-early/a/the-great-mosque-of-cordoba. 18 2 2015.British Museum. Mosque lamp. 2015. http://www.britishmuseum.

org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/m/mamluk_mosque_lamp.aspx. 18 2 2015.Christopher L, E, Witcombe. SACRED PLACES. 2015. http://witcombe.sbc.edu/sacredplaces/cordoba.html. 18 2 2015.