Studies in Arabian Architecture

by Paolo M. Costa

Overview

Based on extensive architectural and archaeological research, these papers present a series of studies on the art, buildings, settlement patterns, and land use in Iraq, Yemen and Oman, from the pre-Islamic period to modern times. Many of the monuments and sites were studied here for the first time, and have subsequently disappeared or become inaccessible. Among the main themes emerging from Professor Costa’s work are the continuity of Arab craftsmanship, in both technical and aesthetic terms, from Late Antiquity into the Islamic period; the relationship between the natural and the built environment; and the dependence of architecture and settlement patterns on the exploitation of natural resources, especially water.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040245842
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/01/2024
Series:	Variorum Collected Studies
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface; Islamic shrines on the Sat al-Nil; The Great Mosque of San’a’; The Mosque of al-Janad; Problems of style and iconography in South-Arabian sculpture; Patterns of urban settlement in ancient Arabia; Notes on settlement patterns in traditional Oman; Notes on traditional hydraulics and agriculture in Oman; The architecture of Salalah and the Dhofar Littoral; Historical interpretation of the territory of Muscat; Index.

Editorial Reviews

Nine papers, originally published 1971-92, discuss general themes, specific manifestations, and and regional styles of architecture from the second century B.C. into the later Islamic period of the Middle East. Many of the buildings described are now either destroyed or restored so fancifully as to be totally misrepresentative. Mosques and shrines, iconography, urban settlement patterns, and historical interpretations are among the topics. Highly illustrated in black and white. Distributed in the US by Ashgate. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

'Costa’s breadth of knowledge is evident throughout the volume.' MESA Bulletin

From the Publisher