|
Squinch
In architecture, a squinch is a structural element used to support the base of a circular or octagonal dome that surmounts a square-plan chamber. Squinches are placed to diagonally span each of the upper internal corners ( vertices) where the walls meet. Constructed from masonry, they have several forms, including a graduated series of stepped arches; a hollow, open half-cone (like half of a funnel laid horizontally); or a small half-dome niche. They are designed to evenly spread the load of a dome across the intersecting walls on which it rests, thus avoiding concentrating higher structural stress on smaller load-bearing areas. By bridging corners, they also visually transition an angular space to a round or near-circular zone. Squinches originated in the Sassanid Empire of Ancient Persia, remaining in use across Central and West Asia into modern times. From its pre-Islamic origin, it developed into an influential structure for Islamic architecture. Georgia and Armenia also in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dome
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a matter of controversy and there are a wide variety of forms and specialized terms to describe them. A dome can rest directly upon a Rotunda (architecture), rotunda wall, a Tholobate, drum, or a system of squinches or pendentives used to accommodate the transition in shape from a rectangular or square space to the round or polygonal base of the dome. The dome's apex may be closed or may be open in the form of an Oculus (architecture), oculus, which may itself be covered with a roof lantern and cupola. Domes have a long architectural lineage that extends back into prehistory. Domes were built in ancient Mesopotamia, and they have been found in Persian architecture, Persian, Ancient Greek architecture, Hellenistic, Ancient Roman architecture, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palace Of Ardashir
The Palace of Ardashir Pāpakan (in , ''Kākh-e Ardashir-e Pāpakān''), also known as the ''Atash-kadeh'' آتشکده, is a castle located on the slopes of the mountain on which Dezh Dokhtar is situated. Built in AD 224 by King Ardashir I of the Sassanian Empire, it is located two kilometers (1.2 miles) north of the ancient city of ''Gor'', i.e. the old city of Artakhsher Khwarah/Khor Adashir/Gor Adesheer (Glory of ingArdasher) in Pars, in ancient Persia (Iran). The ancient city where the palace is located, was renamed "Peroz" (lit. victorious) after Ardashir established the Sassanian Empire by overthrowing Ardavan, the last Parthian king. After the Arabian conquest, Peroz was called Firuz, and the name remained. The modern city of Firuzabad is hence, of important significance in Persian history. Description The structure contains three domes, among other features, making it slightly larger and more magnificent than its predecessor, the nearby castle of Dezh Dokhtar. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Splayed Arch
In architecture, a splayed opening (also splayed reveal) is a wall opening that is narrower on one side of the wall and wider on another. When used for a splayed window, it allows more light to enter the room. In fortifications, a splayed opening is used to broaden the arc of fire (cf. embrasure, Loophole (firearm), loophole). Splayed arch A splayed arch (also sluing arch) is an arch where the springings are not parallel ("splayed"), causing an opening on the exterior side of an arch to be different (usually wider) than the interior one. The intrados of a splayed arch is not generally cylindrical as it is for typical (round arch, round) arch, but has a conical shape. José Calvo-López, a Spanish scholar of architecture, subdivides the splayed arches into symmetrical (where both springers form the same angles with the faces of the wall), and the ox horn arches, where one springer is orthogonal to the wall, and another is not, creating a "warped" intrados (the use of the term ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Islamic Architecture
Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both Secularity, secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Muslim world, Islamic world encompasses a wide geographic area historically ranging from western Africa and Europe to eastern Asia. Certain commonalities are shared by Islamic architectural styles across all these regions, but over time different regions developed their own styles according to local materials and techniques, local dynasties and patrons, different regional centers of artistic production, and sometimes Islamic schools and branches, different religious affiliations. Early Islamic architecture was influenced by Roman architecture, Roman, Byzantine architecture, Byzantine, Iranian architecture, Iranian, and Architecture of Mesopotamia, Mesopotamian architecture and all other lands which the early Muslim conquests conquered in the seventh and eighth centuries.: "As ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Odzun Cupola
Odzun () is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. It is situated on a plateau above the left bank of the Debed river gorge, about a thousand metres above the Yerevan–Tbilisi highway, a few kilometres south of the town of Alaverdi. It is famous for the 6th–8th-century Odzun Church, an Armenian basilica with a cupola, overlooking the gorge. Name According to one explanation, the name of the village derives from the Armenian word 'snake'; thus, ''Odzun'' means 'having many snakes' or 'place of snakes'. The name of the village is attested in various forms, such as ''Otsun'', ''Ozun'', ''Adzun'' and ''Udzun''. Turkic speakers called the village ''Uzunlar'', formed by etymological reinterpretation of the Armenian name (''uzun'' means 'tall' or 'long', and ''-lar'' is a plural-forming suffix). The village was officially known by this latter name from the beginning of the 19th century until 1967, when it was renamed ''Odzun''. Geography Topography The village is situate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baptistery Of San Giovanni In Fonte, Naples
The Baptistery of San Giovanni is a Early Christianity, Paleochristian baptistery attached to the Santa Restituta church in Naples, Italy. It is the oldest surviving baptistery from medieval Europe. History The baptistery was likely built in the fourth century. There are conflicting accounts of who commissioned the construction of the baptistery and when. Severus of Naples, Severus, the twelfth bishop of Naples, is often credited with its construction in the late fourth century. The construction of the baptistery by Severus is chronicled in John the Deacon (Neapolitan historian), John the Deacon’s ''Gesta episcoporum Neapolitanorum''. However, the thirteenth–fourteenth century work ''Chronicle of Saint Mary of the Principle'', credits Constantine the Great with the building of the baptistery at the same time as the S. Restituta during the early fourth century. The architecture and mosaic style lead researchers to believe that the baptistery was more likely to have been co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Church Of San Cataldo, Palermo
The Church of San Cataldo (or Saint Cathal's Church) is a Catholic church located at Piazza Bellini, in central Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Erected in 1154 as a notable example of the Arab-Norman architecture which flourished in Sicily under Norman rule on the island, the church is annexed to that of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio. Since the 1930s, it belongs to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. In 2015, it received status as a World Heritage Site. History and overview Founded around 1160 by admiral Majone di Bari, in the 18th century the church was used as a post office. In the 19th century it was restored and brought back to a form more similar to the original Mediaeval edifice. It has a rectangular plan with blind arches, partially occupied by windows. The ceiling has three characteristics red, bulge domes (''cubole'') and Arab-style merlons. The church provides a typical example of the Arab-Norman architecture, which is unique to Sicily. The plan of the church shows the predil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oxford English Dictionary
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), a University of Oxford publishing house. The dictionary, which published its first edition in 1884, traces the historical development of the English language, providing a comprehensive resource to scholars and academic researchers, and provides ongoing descriptions of English language usage in its variations around the world. In 1857, work first began on the dictionary, though the first edition was not published until 1884. It began to be published in unbound Serial (literature), fascicles as work continued on the project, under the name of ''A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; Founded Mainly on the Materials Collected by The Philological Society''. In 1895, the title ''The Oxford English Dictionary'' was first used unofficially on the covers of the series, and in 1928 the full dictionary was republished in 10 b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
History Of Persian Domes
Persian domes or Iranian domes have an ancient origin and a history extending to the modern era. The use of domes in ancient Mesopotamia was carried forward through a succession of empires in the Greater Iran region. An ancient tradition of royal audience tents representing the heavens was translated into monumental stone and brick domes due to the invention of the squinch, a reliable method of supporting the circular base of a heavy dome upon the walls of a square chamber. Domes were built as part of royal palaces, castles, caravansaries, and temples, among other structures. With the Muslim conquest of Persia, introduction of Islam in the 7th century, mosque and mausoleum architecture also adopted and developed these forms. Structural innovations included pointed domes, drums, conical roofs, double and triple shells, and the use of muqarnas and bulbous forms. Decorative brick patterning, interlaced ribs, painted plaster, and colorful tiled mosaics were used to decorate the exteri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
History Of Early And Simple Domes
Cultures from pre-history to modern times constructed domed dwellings using local materials. Although it is not known when or where the first dome was created, sporadic examples of early domed structures have been discovered. Brick domes from the ancient Near East and corbelled stone domes have been found from the Middle East to Western Europe. These may indicate a common source or multiple independent traditions. A variety of materials have been used, including wood, mudbrick, or fabric. Indigenous peoples around the world produce similar structures today. Early and indigenous domes The earliest domes were likely domed huts made from saplings, reeds, or timbers and covered with thatch, turf, or skins. Materials may have transitioned to rammed earth, mud-brick, or more durable stone as a result of local conditions. The earliest discovered remains of domed constructions may be four small dwellings made of Mammoth tusks and bones. The first was found by a farmer in Mezhirich, Ukra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
