Islamic Architecture .

The most important Islamic building is the house of worship called a mosque. The styles of mosques vary among Islamic countries, but most mosques have a large courtyard surrounded by colonnades or arcades. A colonnade is a row of columns, and an arcade is a row of arches built on columns. The mosque walls consist of coloured brick, tiles, and stucco. Domes top many mosques. Mosques also have one or more towers known as minarets.

In addition to mosques, Muslim architects have designed palaces, tombs, and religious schools called madrasahs. The typical madrasah is a four – sided building surrounding a courtyard. In most cases, a large arched hall called an iwan is set in the middle of each side of the building. Students hear lectures presented in the iwans.

Islamic architecture has produced many beautiful houses of worship called mosques. The drawing shows the Imperial Mosque in Isfahan, Iran. The domed sanctuary appears at the top. Four iwans (halls) with arched entrances surround the main courtyard. The slender towers are called minarets.

№3. Answer the following questions:

1) What is the most important Islamic building?

2) Do the styles of mosques vary among Islamic countries?

3) What do the mosque walls consist of?

4) What tops many mosques?

5) What did Muslim architects design?

6) What is a typical madrasah?

7) Where is an iwan set?

№4. Complete the sentences given below.

1) The most important Islamic building is ……………………….

2) Muslim architects have designed …………………………………

3) The typical madrasah is ………………………………………………..

4) The styles of mosques vary ………………………………………….

5) The mosque walls consist of ………………………………………...

6) A large arched hall is called …………………………………………

7) An iwan is set in …………………………………………………………..

№5. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words below:

Типовий, мусульманський, мечеть, ряд, палац, колона, релiгiйний, арки, двiр, називати, сторона, лекцiя, оточений, стиль, iсламський, черепиця, штукатурка.