Umayyad Dynasty PDF

UMAYYAD DYNASTY Class Teacher: Neyalish Aman Subject: History of Creative Art & Design-II Quraysh Relationship Tree BREIF BACKGROUND  After the death of Hazarat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in 632 AD, a series of four caliphs (Arabic: khalifa, "successor"), known as the Rightly Guided,...

UMAYYAD DYNASTY Class Teacher: Neyalish Aman Subject: History of Creative Art & Design-II Quraysh Relationship Tree BREIF BACKGROUND  After the death of Hazarat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in 632 AD, a series of four caliphs (Arabic: khalifa, "successor"), known as the Rightly Guided, succeeded.  Under their command, Arab armies carried the new faith from Arabia to the shores of the Mediterranean and to the eastern reaches of Iran.  However, following the assassination of Hazarat Ali ibn Abi Talib—Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law, and fourth caliph (r. 656–61)—in 661, Hazarat Mucawiya, the governor of Syria under the Rightly Guided Caliphs, seized power and established the Umayyad caliphate, the first Islamic dynasty (661–750). During Mucawiya's reign (661–80), the seat of Islamic power was transferred from the Arabian Peninsula to Syria.  Under Mucawiya's successors, the important historic city of Damascus was transformed into the capital of an empire that extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indus River UMAYYAD DYNASTY Umayyad dynasty, also spelled Omayyad, the first great Muslim dynasty to rule the empire of the caliphate (661–750 CE), sometimes referred to as the Arab kingdom. The Umayyads, headed by Abū Sufyān, were a largely merchant family of the Quraysh tribe centred at Mecca. They had initially resisted Islam, not converting until 627, but subsequently became prominent administrators under Muhammad and his immediate successors.  In the first Muslim civil war (fitnah; 656–661)— the struggle for the caliphate following the murder of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, the third caliph (reigned 644–656)—Abū Sufyān’s son Muʿāwiyah, then governor of Syria, emerged victorious over ʿAlī, Muhammad’s son-in-law and fourth caliph. Muʿāwiyah then established himself as the first Umayyad caliph.  Once the Umayyad got control they began to conquer new lands The empire spanned parts of three continents: Africa, Asia and Europe in less than 100 years  The Umayyad period is often considered the formative period in Islamic art. At first, even though Arabic became the official language and Islam the principal religion of the diverse lands unified under Umayyad rule, artists continued to work in their established manner.  The main artistic influence came from the late antique classical naturalistic tradition which had been prevalent on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. This was also supplemented by the more formal modes developed by the Byzantines and Sasanians a factor that especially affected metalwork, textiles, and the depiction of animal, vegetal and figural motifs Decorative technique Relief Craving Mosaic Ashlar Masonary Stucco Relief  Relief carving is a type of wood carving in which figures are carved in a flat panel of wood. The figures project only slightly from the background rather than standing freely. Ashlar masonry is a type of stone construction where all stones are dressed or cut to a uniform shape, size and surface appearance.  Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, external building siding, and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration Products Parchment leaf from a Koran written in earlyKufic Syria; 1st half of 8th century The script on this leaf from an early Koran with a vertical format is a precursor of Kufi calligraphy, which was to be the dominant type used for Korans in the 9th century. Almost none of the diacritical marks are found here that were later commonly used to distinguish among consonants and to denote vowels. The leaf (both sides) contains the verses from the end of sura90 to the beginning of sura 93, and the individual chapters are separated by ornamented, colored bars extending from margin to margin. Kufic Calligraphy Slab The faded black paint used to inscribe this limestone slab does not permit a proper reading of the text, which was written in a cursive script typical of the early Islamic era The text, beginning with the standard formula "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate," Earthenware cup Earthenware cup with molded decoration and yellow and green glazes Iraq or Syria; 8th-9th century The cup was given uniform, fairly small-patterned decorations in low relief. This type of decoration was found in the Umayyad period, Decorations like these – with rosettes, a scale-like pattern, etc. – could be applied to the finished piece by repeatedly using one or more stamps of different types. Vessel with Pierced Design Bronze was used extensively in the early Islamic period. Judging from the pierced decoration, this object might have been part of a lamp or an incense burner, its pierced surfaces perfect for allowing light and scented smoke to pass through. The exterior is decorated with a horizontal band with alternating, interlacing roundels containing birds and stylized plants. The bottom also features stylized plant designs arranged radially. Woven Tapestry Fragment   Found in Iran, Iraq, or Egypt  Wool; tapestry weave; L. 12 in. (30.5 cm), W. 18 3/4 in. (47.6 cm)  The overall pattern on this tapestry‑woven cloth, possibly a floor covering, with staggered rows of rosettes, resembles textiles depicted on the rock reliefs of the late sixth- to early seventh-century Ewer with a Cock-Shaped Spout Ewer, 8th–early 9th century Probably Syria Bronze, cast, engraved, and pierced; H. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm) Coinage The Umayyads took many features from the territories that they had conquered, but a new Islamic culture also slowly began to take form. At the same time, the realm’s new subjects adopted the Arabic language and Islam. A powerful symbol of the new empire was the development of a special Islamic coinage. Coinage Umayyad Architecture Islamic architecture may be identified with the following design elements, which were inherited from the first mosque built by Hazarat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in Medina, as well as features adapted from churches.  Minarets or towers  Mihrab or niche on an inside wall indicating the direction of Mecca  Domes  Use of geometric shapes and repetitive art (arabesque)  Use of decorative Arabic calligraphy  Ablution fountains Umayyad Architecture In the case of religious buildings, the Umayyads often constructed their monuments on sites of historical or symbolic significance Umayyad religious architecture Umayyad religious architecture is characterized by the use of square or rectangular structures that include a courtyard and a prayer hall. Umayyad prayer halls follow a hypostyle plan, with their roofs resting on a series of pillars or columns. The hypostyle hall would continue to be used in many later Abbasid prayer halls. Hypostyle Mosque Plan Umayyad’s Architecture Large-scale building projects, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Great Mosque in Damascus, demonstrated the Umayyads’ artistic and political ambitions. They were built on sites where the temples and churches of other religions had stood before, and were embellished with extensive mosaic decorations and monumental Koranic sayings. The Umayyads’ palaces and hunting lodges in Syria were also richly ornamented, both inside and out. Sculptures and murals with princes and dancing girls show that rulers led a life of luxury in these “desert palaces. Common Interpretations of Islamic Architecture The concept of Allah's infinite power is evoked by designs with repeating themes. Human and animal forms are rarely depicted in decorative art as Allah's work is matchless. Calligraphy is used to enhance the interior of a building by providing quotations from the Qur'an. Islamic architecture focuses on the beauty of the interior rather than exterior spaces. Use of impressive forms such as large domes, towering minarets, and large courtyards are intended to convey power. Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Palestine  The most famous Islamic site in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock(Qubbat as-Sakhrah). An impressive and beautiful edifice, the Dome of the Rock can be seen from all over Jerusalem. It is the crowning glory of the Haram es-Sharif ("Noble Sanctuary"), or Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but a Muslim shrine. Like the Ka'ba in Mecca, it is built over a sacred stone. This stone is believed to be the place from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven during his Night Journey to heaven. The Dome of the Rock is the oldest Islamic monument that stands today and certainly one of the most beautiful. It also boasts the oldest surviving mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca) in the world. The sacred rock over which the Dome of the Rock is built was considered holy before the arrival of Islam. Jews believed, and still believe, the rock to be the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac (an event which Muslims place in Mecca) What to See at the Dome of the Rock The extraordinary visual impact of the Dome of the Rock is in part due to the mathematical rhythm of its proportions. All the critical dimensions are related to the center circle that surrounds the sacred stone. For example, each outer wall is 67 feet long, which is exactly the dome's diameter and exactly its height from the base of the drum. The same principles were used in Byzantine churches of Italy, Syria, and Palestine. The dome is topped by a full moon decoration which evokes the familiar crescent moon symbol of Islam. It is aligned so that if you could look through it, you would be looking straight towards Mecca. The Arabic inscription around the octagonal part of the Dome of the Rock are verses from the Qur'an. Arabic inscription tells of the Night Journey of Muhammad as described in the Qur'an The mosaics of the interior feature both realistic and stylized representations of vegetation and related themes (Muslim law forbids the representation of living beings in art).  The columns supporting the inner octagon and the center circle are of different sizes; they were recycled from previous structures. The cupola, the interior of the great golden dome, features elaborate floral decorations in red and gold, as well as various inscriptions. Umayyad mosque in Damascus  The interior walls of Great Mosque of Damascus have stone mosaics that depict crowns, fantastic plants, realistic trees, and even empty towns. This is thought to represent Paradise for the faithful Muslim. The Great Mosque of Damascus used the Syrian cut- stone technique of building and popularized the use of the dome.  The walls of the mosque were once covered with more than an acre of mosaics depicting a fanciful landscape thought to be the Quʾrānic paradise, but only fragments survive. The mosque was destroyed by Timur in 1401, rebuilt by the Arabs, and damaged by fire in 1893. Although it could not be restored to its original splendour, the mosque is still an impressive architectural monument. Desert Palaces The Umayyads’ palaces and hunting lodges in Syria were also richly ornamented, both inside and out. Sculptures and murals with princes and dancing girls show that rulers led a life of luxury in these “desert palaces. Desert Palaces Umayyad desert palaces, often called qasr, were princely residences built as hunting retreats or places to stay in while the rulers toured the country. Most of them were based on Roman and Byzantine fortresses and were surrounded by irrigated agricultural estates. They were typically made of brick or stone, square or rectangular in plan, and entered through a large portal. Their interiors were decorated with carved stucco reliefs, painted frescoes, and mosaics. Desert Palaces The largest is Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi. Qasr Kharana Qasr Amra