Alright, while I have to join up or something to read the entire thing, I can see where this is going : It’s a “Beacon of Light”, yet there is nothing on it to suggest any light (Not flames or anything at the top)
I’m thinking that it’s an attempt to see the mosque from miles around (like ever other ancient pyre design).
I’m looking to see if there is a connection to the presence of a Minaret and the conquest of the land that the mosque was cobbled together upon (From Garbage.. Let my disdain for Islam be known)
From what I cobbled together from various sites, it served like a steeple on early churches, with the same origin- a way to recognize the center of worship in the town. That is the ‘light’ it refers to. Like Christian churches used bells to call someone to church, Muslims had a call to prayer from the top of it so everyone could hear.
Remember, the origins of this were during a time when timekeeping instruments were rare so something like a regular call to prayer served as a good timekeeping device as well.
Regarding the connection to conquest, you will find this interesting.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/500639
I don’t know if they are classically a symbol of conquest or a natural and familiar architectual feature that goes up to represent the religion?