Pointed Arches
Most people are most familiar with the pointed arch through Gothic Architecture, like Salisbury Cathedral, right below. But pointed arches were used first in Muslim architecture, especially mosques like the Great Mosque of Cordoba, left below. Both integrate pointed arches and help to accentuate the importance of the space as a space of worship.
The Great Mosque of CordobaConverted from an old church, this mosque integrates architecture and art from Europe and the Near East. Completed in the 8th century, the structure incorporates Romanesque style arches and pointed arches. The main use of the pointed arch is to great the great dome over the Mihrab, the focal point of prayer. The point arches allowed for the weight of the stone roof to be distributed so that the dome does not collapse on its own weight. It also allowed for intricate geometric designs, a very common attribute of Muslim art and architecture.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/islamic-art-early/a/the-great-mosque-of-cordoba. |
Salisbury CathedralHundreds of years later, Salisbury Cathedral was completed in 1258 in England. This Gothic cathedral incorporates point arches into almost every aspect of structure: the shape of the wall, the shape of the windows, and shape of the ceiling, and the buttresses build into the ceiling. Like the Great Mosque of Cordoba, pointed arches were used to offer additional support to the ceiling and allowed for the ceiling to be made of stone and incorporate more intricate stonework.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/latin-western-europe/gothic1/a/salisbury-cathedral |