U6: Cordoba and Bayeux Tapestry

Match

DO NOW: Match the following key terms

• minaret

• iconoclasm

• pendentive

• aniconic

• vellum

a tall, slender tower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony for muezzin to call prayer

the destruction of religious images as heretical

a triangular piece beneath a dome that allows the dome to rise high above the floor

representations without human or animal forms

parchment made from the skin of a calf

• a tall, slender tower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony for muezzin to call prayer

• the destruction of religious images as heretical

• a triangular piece beneath a dome that allows the dome to rise high above the floor

• representations without human or animal forms

• parchment made from the skin of a calf

Match

DO NOW: Match the following floor plans

Santa Sabina

San Vitale

Dome of the Rock

Hagia Sophia

• Santa Sabina

• San Vitale

• Dome of the Rock

• Hagia Sophia

MEDIUM: Stone Masonry

LOCATION: Cordoba, Spain

CULTURE OF ORIGIN: Umayyads

DATE: 785-786 CE

Great Mosque of Cordoba

Umayyad Caliphate

• Caliphate = An institution or state under the rule of an Islamic leader (caliph)

• Ummayad Caliphate of 661 CE to 744 CE conquer Spain, Portugal, and territories of Northern Africa and convert from Christianity to Islam. People still allowed to practice Christianity or Judaism but had to pay tolls/taxes.

• Mosque built on site of a Roman temple dedicated to Janus, then converted into a Visigothic church, then converted to mosque under Ummayads.

• Columns from previous temple and church re-used (spolia) in mosque.

Great Mosque of Cordoba- A Melting Pot

• Christian bell tower at entrance originally minaret but built over in 16th century

• Court of the Orange Trees: citrus and palm trees brought to Spain as reminders of home in Damascus (Ummayad capital)

• Court irrigated by pools, fountains, and grooves in stone pavement to avoid disrupting architecture; provide spiritual refreshment.

Hypostyle Hall and Double Arches

• Mosque enlarged multiple times throughout its existence. No new modifications made, only repetition of original structures; creates a sense of infinite space seen especially in hypostyle hall.

• Double arches help add height to columns and provide more light.

• Alternating red and white voussoirs (wedge-shaped stones) influenced by Roman aqueducts

• Horseshoe arches = influence of Visigothic architecture; became typical of Islamic architecture.

• Shape of horseshoe helps distribute weight above downwards; more effective than Roman arches

​Roman aqueducts

• 16th century: Christian cathedral with Gothic elements constructed in center of mosque; King Charles V later expresses regret demolishing after visiting mosque

• Door of Palms and Mihrab demonstrate use of mosaics with use of golden tesserae; mosaicists from Constantinople brought over to create (Byzantine influence)

• Mihrab niche size of a small room

• Use of calligraphy from verses from Quran.

Dome: shape of octagonal star.

Crisscrossing ribs.

Open Ended

Besides the overall Islamic style and origin of the Mosque of Cordoba, identify two different architectural features of the mosque and name the cultures they originate from.

MEDIUM: Embroidery on linen

LOCATION: Bayeux, France

CULTURE OF ORIGIN: Romanesque Europe

DATE: c. 1066 - 1080 CE

Bayeux Tapestry

Battle of Hastings ( 14 Oct 1066)

• Edward the Confessor holds title of King of England in 1042. Dies childless; no heir.

• On deathbed, names Harold II as successor and is crowned king. WIlliam of Normandy contests succession and claims he was originally promised throne.

• Both sides have strength of 5,000-7,000 men; thousands killed in a single day; battle ends in Harold's death. William invades and conquers England at Battle of Hastings and crowned king on Christmas day.

• William unites England and much of France.

• Tapestry made for Bayeux cathedral, commissioned by Bishop Odo (William's half-brother); uncertain on manner of display.

Battle of Hastings ( 14 Oct 1066)

• Designs made by men by tapestry likely made by teams of women from royal court.

• Wool sewn on linen; 230 ft. long.

• Contains:

  • 50 scenes

  • 626 figures

  • 731 animals

  • 376 boats

  • 2,000 1 in. tall letters

• Starts with Edward's death, preparation for battle, actual battle, Harold's death, ends with William's coronation

Battle of Hastings ( 14 Oct 1066)

• Unique for its depiction of a contemporary event shortly after it took place.

• Top banners depicting bird and animal decorations; bottom banner depicting horses and dead warriors

• Depicts ways of cooking, military strategies, military garments (Chainmail, conical helmets with nose plates)

• Provides visual for Viking boats (Normans have viking ancestry); dragonheads on prows, shields as ramming devices

Battle of Hastings ( 14 Oct 1066)

• Edward's funeral: God's hand points way to church (Westminster Abbey- one of first Romanesque buildings in England)

• William also crowned at Westminster (every monarch crowned there since); Halley's comet shown flying overhead

Open Ended

In 1-2 FULL SENTENCES, explain why the Bayeux Tapestry is significant in terms of its historical value.