Qal MosqueBaghdad, 13th century

muqarnas vaulted archways

Zaituna MosqueQairawan, Iran

example of a Persian mosque, influenced by central Asian influences with four arched facades facing a central courtyard

Ibn Tulun MosqueCairo, Egypt876-879 a.d.

Eastern influenced doorway opening with a peaked arch

Al-Aqsa Mosque, entrywayDome of the Rock, Jerusalem

688-691 a.d.

Vaulted arch porch supported by antique columns

Guesthouse, Taj MahalDelhi, India1631-1643

simple geometric pattern carved into red sandstone

Al-’Attarin Madrasa Fez, Morocco1323-1325

the multiple arches surrounding the doorway, and the variety of textures and colors achieve balance through repetition

Kasbah of TlwatAtlas Mountains, Morocco19th century

rectangular doorway framed by peaked arch

Madrasa Mosque of Sultan HassanCairo, Egypt1356-1363

double arch supported by two columns, framed above by a rectangle

Madrasa Mosque of Sultan HassanCairo, Egypt1356-1363

double arch supported by two columns, framed above by a rectangle

Kasbah of TlwatAtlas Mountains, Morocco19th century

carved stucco capital

Bu ‘Inaniya MadrasaMeknes, Moroccomid-14th century

carved stucco embellished with muqarnas designs

Friday Mosque, mosaic detailIshfahan, Iran

mid 15th century

six, eight, and ten point stars are commonly laid in the ceiling

Great Mosque of Diyarbakr, courtyard façade Diyarbakr , Turkey

12th century

Typical proportion and arrangement of stones forming the archway

Wazir Kahn MosqueLahore, Pakistan1634

peaked, arched doorway framed by a rectangle

Al-Firdaus MadrasaAleppo, Syria1235

curved arch supported by two columns and framed above by a rectangle

Great Mosque of CordobaCordoba, Spain

962

interlaced arches frame the doorways

Friday MosqueTinmal, Morocco

1153-54

the horseshoe arch, common in western Islamic architecture

Great MosqueThatta, Pakistan1647

pointed arches formed with rows of narrow bricks

Palace of Rajah BirbalFatehpur Sikri, India1573-80

scalloped stone archway framed by a rectangle

Octagonal Tower, column capital detailAgra, India

1611-27

capitals blend the column with the lintel

Mosque of the Old FortDelhi, India1541

stacked sections form the column, taking inspiration from turned wood

Tashkaul PalaceKhiva, Uzbekistan1831-41

carved wooden column rests gracefully on marble base

Great MosqueTlemcen, Morocco

1082

rounded horseshoe arches with notched interiors

Great MosqueAlgiers, Algeria1096

triangular, notched arch framed by a rectangle

Great MosqueTlemcen, Morocco1082

triangular, notched arch framed by a rectangle leading to horseshoe arch

Friday MosqueTinmal, Morocco1153-54

scalloped triangular archway framing a horseshoe arch

Friday MosqueTinmal, Morocco1153-54

scalloped triangular double archways supported by pillars

Great MosqueAlgiers, Algeria1082

notched triangular archways framed by rectangles

Madrasa of Salih Negm ad-DinCairo, Egypt1249-50

five layered, notched arch doorway

Throne Room, Kapu SarayIstanbul, Turkey

1585

strong arches, supported by columns, describe the periphery of the porch

Gate of Felicity, Kapu SarayIstanbul, Turkey

18th century

simple columns with decorative capitals

Bedchamber of Muraud III, Kapu SarayIstanbul, Turkey

1578the decorative border along the top frame of the platform’s roof and simple, thin

columns could be a model for the porch