Mosaic in Islamic Architecture

Abstract

Immediately after Islam had emerged in the Arabian Peninsula in the first half of the seventh century, it expanded into a vast geographical area in the first 100 years. The generation of its own cultural identity, correspondingly its religious, political expansion and strength occurred in that period, as well. It is appreciated that a style to be characterized as Islamic Art originated in the architectural works of art which belonged particularly to the Umayyad authority with the impact and contribution of the ancient indigenous elements. That art was advanced in subsequent periods and gained a unique feature especially with the Seljuks. In this study, it is discussed that the mosaic technique, whose origins can be traced to antiquity and experienced an extensive process throughout the Middle East, was implemented in Islamic architecture, such as mosques, palaces, and tombs. It attempted to introduce that the practice of those mosaics was developed according to the principles of Islamic faith by means of calligraphic bands, floral and geometrical arrangements in the process from its beginning until the extension of tile-mosaic and tile techniques.