Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: solon_where_r_u
The interior of the mosque at Cordoba ( 8th century) is a continuous arcade - all round arches. The Alhambra ( 12th C) has tons of pointy arches in the tracery and lacework. The arch was actually discovered by the Etruscans and put to work by the Romans (Coliseum). It was lost, along with the recipe for concrete, during the dark ages. It was rediscovered in principle with the bays of late Romanesque and put to work in French and northern Gothic.

The arch is a Western invention, but the Islamic nations also used it. Islamic art relies heavily on patterns from nature- the natural arches of trees are one such example. Hope this helps.

20 posted on 10/14/2001 12:41:05 AM PDT by ItCanHappenToYou
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]


To: ItCanHappenToYou
Forgot to add that the arch is ubiquitous in architecture because it adds great strength and decreases weight of walls.
21 posted on 10/14/2001 12:45:30 AM PDT by ItCanHappenToYou
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson