Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/736

 678 COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE. 4. COMPARATIVE. A, Plan. — The essential requirement of a mosque (Arabic, nicsgid = place for prostration) — the principal type of building — is an unroofed inclosure approximating a parallelogram on plan, with central fountain for ablution, as enjoined by the Koran. This occupies a position similar to that in the atrium of the Christian basilican church. Around this open space were placed colonnades (No. 286 a), for protection from the sun. The side towards Mecca was the most frequented part, and was generally of extra depth. It contained the KibleJi (indicating the direction of Mecca) in the Mihvah, or niche, and the mimhav (pulpit) placed alongside (Nos. 286 a, c and 287). Near at hand is the "dikka," or tribune, from which the "unam" reads passages from the Koran and intones the prayers. Minarets accentuate certain portions of the plan, and are generally polygonal (Nos. 285, 286 c and 298 g). A second type of plan is the Mosque of Sultan Hassan at Cairo (No. 286 c), which is cruciform on plan, the centre portion only being left open. The four arms are arched over with pointed vaults, and behind the mihrab is placed the founder's tomb crowned with a dome, A third type of plan was based on the Byzantine model, in which the mosque proper was independent, having a front courtyard, and a garden behind in which the tomb of the founder was placed. The Khans (or Hotels), often erected in the great cities (ex. Khan of Kait-Bey at Cairo), had an open court, round which were placed numerous chambers used by the merchants or travellers, who came from all parts to dispose of their goods. In Constantinople there are 180 of these buildings. The dweUing-honses are planned with interior courts in the Eastern manner, on to which the principal rooms face. The windows towards the street are small and strongly barred in the lower stories, those to the upper stories being often ornamented with lattice work (No. 291 b). Special regard is paid to privacy in the planning of the corridors and in the isolation of the harem or women's apartments. There is generally a principal court, approached from the entrance, in which is placed a summer-house and fountain. B. Walls. — Constructed of local materials, and ornamented with minute surface decoration, either in plaster, precious stones, or glazed tiles (page 680). In the Alhambra, Granada, the walls are inlaid with glazed tiles to a height of 4 feet, above which a separate scheme of arabesque treatment is carried out. In Cairo many of the walls are of stone on the ground Hoor, the upper part being of brick faced with plaster, or of wood. They seem