fatimids arts

7/28/2019 FatimIds Arts

1/31

THE FATIM IDS909 1171 A.D.


2/31

The Aghlabids Map


3/31

The Fatimids:

Claimed descendants of the

Prophet (S) through the

daughter Fatima who married

Ali (the Prophets cousin) Shiah(or Shiite) from shiatAli

ShiahIsmailiah = from the 7th

imam Ismail

Began in Khuzistan Southern

Iraq mid 9th century

Moved to Salamiya and

continued dawah mission

Abu AbdAllah al-Shii settled in

Ifriqiya early 10th century with

the support of the Berbers

UbaidAllah flee Salamiya,

detained in Sijilmasa (southern

Morocco) later freed by Abu

AbdAllah

Founded Shiite Fatimid

caliphate in Tunisia in 910


4/31

Al-Mahdiya founded in 921 as the

capital

Fustat (capital of Egypt) conquered

in 969

Founded their own capital Al-Qahirah the Victorious and

worked to dismember the Abbasids

empire

Objective: to unite the Muslim

world under Shiite doctrine


5/31

The Fatimids Map


6/31

Artistic Characteristics:

Forms a bridge between the east

and west, the Umayyads and the

Abbasids

Reinvigorated the Hellenism

tradition through their contact with

the Christian powers to the north

Expression of religious zeal in art

and architecture with a doctrine

which is both political and spiritual

The rise of the Druse religious

community (1017-1021), venerating

the Fatimid calip al-Hakim (996

1021) as an incarnation of God

Manuscript (11th century) 14 x 14 cm depicting two

warriors. Inscriptions read: Fame and riches to the

Commander Abu Mansur


7/31

FORTS, GATES AND

CITADELSSQIFA AL-KAHLA,

MAHDIYA (Black

Entrance) (10TH

CENTURY)

Controlled entry to

the royal city

The horseshoe arched

entry led to vaulted

gatehouse, protected

by heavy iron doors

The two bastions

contained stairways

leading to the top of

the tower


8/31

BAB AL-FUTUH (CAIRO) 11TH century: a more elaborately decorated gateway, with rounded flying

buttresses, projected parapet (machicolations) above the arched doorway, radiating voussoirs of the

arches and battlements


9/31

Bab An-Nasr 11th century Cairo: built using material

from the ruins of Pharaonic temples in 1087-1092


10/31

MOSQUES

Great Mosque of al-

Mahdiya, 916


11/31

Great Mosque of Mahdiya

Inner court with colonnades of

horseshoe arches

Gallery of the inner courtyard


12/31

Minaret of the the Great Mosque of qala Banu Hammad early 11th

century


13/31


14/31

Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo 972

Built by Jauhar after the

conquest of Fustat, Al-Azhar

became the centre of

dawah and the most

important universities ofthe Islamic World during

Ottoman

The dome and minaret

were added in 1469 by the

Mamluk Sultan Qaitbai


15/31


16/31

Al-Hakim Mosque, Cairo 990 - 1013


17/31

Five aisled prayer hall following traditional mosque prototype with wide central

aisle: the courtyard which was badly dilapidated was turned into military barracks,

sports ground and even the first Museum of Islamic Art.


18/31

The oldest surviving minaret

of the Fatimids period

amidst the renovations doneconcealing its original

features


19/31

The arcade surrounding the courtyard


20/31

Al-Aqmar Mosque, Cairo 1125

Built in stone, with intricate stone carving

detailings

The faade exhibit classical influence, withtripartite structure and portal design to the

entrance

Decorative elements: muqarnas,

inscriptions, portal, niche, tympanum,

horizontal and radiating ribs


21/31

Medallion in the tympanum of Aqmar Mosque, Cairo, 1125


22/31

TOMBS


23/31

Blue glass cup 9-11th c

Glass with lustre painting, 10th

century

GLASSWARE


24/31

CERAMICS

LUSTREWARE


25/31

WOOD

CARVINGOutstanding forcraftsmanship

Characterised by central

subject matter, often

depicting human and animal

figures, with interlaced

tendrils surrounding pattern

Known to have been

executed in Coptic workshops

Inlaid panel 10th century; lacquered wood of wood, ivory and bone

intarsia

Fragment from Fatimid western Palace, Cairo, 11 th century 30 x 40 cm: subject matters of people dancing, hunting and music


26/31

Portable mihrab (1133) from

Mausoleum Sayyida Ruqayya: carved

with 6 pointed stars and surroundinginscriptions


27/31

Teak door panel, 11th century

Depicting mirrored horses

silhoutted against interlacing

tendrils on geometric pattern base

IVORY


28/31

IVORY

CARVING

Left: Ivory Plaque 11-

12th century;

Subject matter: wine

drinking

Right: Carved ivory, Fustat


29/31


30/31


31/31

fatimids arts

Documents