Islamic Architecture (continued)

III. Palaces

Introduction: The caliphs (successors of Muhammad) conquered new territories in the name of Islam. The sultans (emperors or kings) began to administer the vast empire and carried on extensive trade. They became rich and their palaces reflected this. Yet, it was always dangerous to be a ruler, so even the palaces were built like forts. Because the sultan's power was also tied to being a good Muslim, the rulers also built mosques as part of their palaces. Palaces also included living quarters for the wives of the sultan called a harem, bathhouses, kitchens and dining areas, and quarters for the Sultan's family, and servants. Male servants and guards who lived in the palace near the women were usually eunuchs (castrated males). Soldiers were housed in a separate part of the palace or outside of it.

A. Umayyad Palaces

The first dynasty of wealthy Muslim rulers was the Umayyads whose capital was Damascus, Syria. After about 90 years of rule, they were overthrown by the Abassids who moved their capital to Baghdad, Iraq.

(Image below from Tower of David Museum, Jerusalem; Jerusalem Mosaic.)

There are only the remains of Umayyad palaces for us to see today. Archeologists are giving us a better picture of these great structures.

If you like, learn more about Umayyad Palaces. Explore the remains of The Umayyad Palaces of Jerusalem (next to a mosque and a bathhouse with an extensive water-carrying system). [Jerusalem Mosaic] See archeological work and learn more about Jerusalem in the early Islamic years; see all the links (water system, costume, food, etc.) of "The Early Arab Age: 638 - 1099". An Umayyad palace and town are being excavated in Lebanon. Anjar, a fascinating Umayyad town with many mysteries, is emerging from the desert. So far excavations show baths, a palace, fortified gates, and many shops and homes. Learn more about the Emergence of Anjar. Another Umayyad palace is in Jordan called the Kharaneh Palace (Qasr Kharana) built about 710 A.D.. Visit the castle/palace shown at an excellent site developed by middle school students in Jordan: "Kharaneh Castle". See another Umayyad palace, Khirbet al-Mafjar (Hisham's Palace) #39 in the Jordan Valley. This palace included a residence, mosque, and bathhouse for the caliph. Its decorations included sculptures of animals and humans, and mosaic tiles which is unusual in Arabic architecture. See a floor plan and drawing of an Umayyad Palace.

B. The Citadel - Cairo, Egypt

The Citadel (great fortress) was built by Saladin in 1176. (Saladin was the leader who fought against Richard the Lion-heart of England in a crusade.) In 1218 the Citadel was the residence (home) of Sultan al-Kamil (nephew of Saladin). Today the citadel is a tourist attraction and visitors can see its mosques, several museums, palace, and military garrisons

If you like, learn more about the Citadel (from Tour Egypt) and see a map of the Citadel's total area. (Tour Egypt)

C. The Alhambra - In Grenada, Spain

Courtesy of IslamicArt

Photos courtesy of Go Spain

Another center of Islamic power was Andalusia (Muslim Spain). An Umayyad dynasty was started there by Ab-dal Rahman who escaped from the "deadly dinner" in Baghdad in which the other Umayyad leaders were assassinated.

One of the best known monuments of Islamic architecture is the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. In The Genius of Arab Civilization, Grabar describes the Alhambra as a "citadel-city-within-a-city, a complex typical of late medieval Islam." (See a view of the exterior walls of the Alcazaba, the oldest part of the Alhambra.)

In the 13th century, the last Muslim dynasty of Spain made Granada its capital. The Alhambra became the dynasty's royal city. The word Alhambra comes from the Arabic "al-Hamra" which means Red Palace. Within the walls of the Alhambra were a mosque, baths, houses, gardens and a royal burial place. Except for the outer walls, the citadel and two large architectural units, little remains of the original construction. The Alhambra was redesigned in the last half of the 14th century by Muhammad V.

The Gardens and Fountains (shown above) are a symbol for "Paradise" or Heaven. (This connection between "garden" and "Paradise" are in the Qur'an.) A garden (al-janna, "The Garden") is usually four rectangles with fruit trees arranged in rows parallel to a watercourse. The symbolic value of the formal Islamic garden was as an earthly anticipation of paradise.

This is an incredible palace with fountains, gardens, and beautiful designs in tile, cement and carved marble.

If you like, take a tour of "The Alhambra and Generalife". For more good photographs see "Pillars and Carving at the Alhambra, Granada" See a description of the Alhambra and other Andalusian palaces in "Wonders of Az-Zahra and other Andalusian Palaces" by Dr. A. Zahoor. See more of the Madinat al Zahra (shown below).

D. Madinat al-Zahra (in Cordoba, Muslim Spain)

This is the interior of the reception hall. Below is an aerial view of the whole palace. Built by Abd al'Rahman III as his country palace outside of Cordoba, it was destroyed in 1010 by rival armies of Muslim soldiers. Plundered, then buried under mud, it is now being unearthed and rebuilt.

E. Topkapi Palace in Turkey (Ottoman Empire)

Topkapi Palace and the Suleymaniya from the Ottoman Turkish period was a complex built for Suleyman the Magnificent (the emperor) during the 15th century. The Suleymaniya complex covers 60,000 square meters and includes seven colleges, a hospital and asylum, a hammam (bath or fountain for washing), two residences, a hostel for visitors, kitchens, tombs, fountains, wrestling grounds, shops, a piazza and a mosque within its courtyard. Below is a photograph Topkapi Palace, built in Istanbul, Turkey. The rooms on the left are the "harem", the women's section of the palace. It was supervised by eunuchs, males who had been castrated and served as guards of the palace.

See the Topkapi Palace (Istanbul, Turkey) and the Alhambra (Grenada, Spain) at Cultural Academy's site. Then see features inside the Alhambra castle as well.

F. Palace in Kilwa, East Africa

Trade expanded down the coast of East Africa, and Islam was carried by these early traders. Arab merchants and coast people intermarried and formed a new society, and even a new language called "Swahili". Below is a drawing of a palace built about 1250 in Kilwa, an important trading center. From here, merchants got ostrich feathers, ivory, gold, and slaves. Its rulers were African-Muslims whose ancestors included Arab traders.

Go back to Islamic Architecture, Page 1 - Mosques Go to Islamic Architecture, Page 2 - Inside a Mosque You are here at Page 3: Palaces Go to Islamic Architecture, Page 4 - Forts, Castles Go to Islamic Architecture, Page 5 - Homes Go to Islamic Architecture, Page 6 - Caravanserai Go to Islamic Architecture, Page 7 - Bath houses, Tombs, and Architecture