Some beautiful examples of Islamic architecture

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polarmystery

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
3,888
8
81
I agree with the OP. Every American should watch Rick Steve's documentary on Iran before deciding to go nuke them! You know, they are not THAT different from us when you boil a lot of things down.

You don't even have to boil it down...they are a lot like us period.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,019
10,517
126
I'm not a big fan of eastern styling; it's a bit... much. I prefer old stone, with a more gothic touch. It's impressive work though :^)
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
technically speaking, the architecture in many of those photos isn't that amazing. However the tile work and mosaics are beyond crazy in all of them.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,561
13,802
126
www.anyf.ca
Wow that is actually quite amazing! I always pictured mostly clay / limestone buildings with lot of cracks and such, and very little color.
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
They love their tile so much, when Persian wives would tell their husbands they'd like to get laid, they'd wake up covered in grout and a mosaic coming out of their @ss.
 

MarkXIX

Platinum Member
Jan 3, 2010
2,642
1
71
If only these cultures put the same value on human life as they do the architecture inspired by the love for their religion. Hell, half the time they don't even respect the splendor of these places as they subject them to explosions based solely on marginal differences of belief (Sunni vs. Shiite).

We as a people (Americans) have all but marginalized our hate groups (KKK, etc.), but Islamic societies seem to almost revere theirs.

I agree that the architecture is amazing, so it is sad that in many of these places, absolute hatred of non-Muslims and Americans is so pervasive. A truly enlighted culture would refute the leaders who preach hatred in these places.
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
44
91
I'm not a big fan of eastern styling; it's a bit... much. I prefer old stone, with a more gothic touch. It's impressive work though :^)

Yeah I agree they are a bit gaudy (I too am a fan of minimalism), but the shear intricacy and complexity wins me over in most of these cases.
 

2Xtreme21

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2004
7,044
0
0
We as a people (Americans) have all but marginalized our hate groups (KKK, etc.), but Islamic societies seem to almost revere theirs.

That's what the neo-conservatives will have you believe; when, in fact, they are marginalized in Islamic societies probably MORE than we marginalize the KKK. Some of the posts in this thread almost make me want to puke at the ignorance expressed toward Muslims. Labeling a Muslim a terrorist is comparable to labeling a Republican a terrorist (Timothy McVeigh was a registered Republican). Only a complete fool would do the latter, so wake the fuck up.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,764
5,928
146
Those pictures = math owns all. The corbelled arches, the domes, the symmetry.
Thanks OP.
 

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
This is the most awesome example of islamic archetecture i've ever seen:

image555944g.jpg

Why do you hate Islam? I'd like to see your face so I can the the fucking turd you really are.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
Why do you hate Islam? I'd like to see your face so I can the the fucking turd you really are.

come on just ignore the troll and move on. we don't need pages of bickering.

it is very beautiful. the amount of detail and grandeur is just surreal.
 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,666
21
81
Their leadership is insane, but everything about the country is beautiful including their people.
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
Thanks for the link OP

Man, I almost went to Oman last year for a science expedition, and was planning a mega vacation of Oman --> Dubai --> Istanbul --> Amsterdam --> London --> NY --> and back home to SD.. but it all got foiled due to the pirates.. our expedition was canceled indefinitely until piracy goes down in that area.

I was really looking forward to watching this stuff in person. My coworker and I were ultra bummed. Oh well, out ultra expedition + vacation will have to wait. *shakes fist at pirates*
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
are you laughing over people dying?
your worse than Gay-ner.

He's laughing over your inadvertant punctionation fail

i lost friends in that jackass. (that one over there, the fat guy)
i lost friends in that, jackass.

The photos are beautiful! Thanks for the link, Locut0s. Is this style of architecture technically called Moorish or is that something else? What's the differentiation between the two? I wish I knew a bit more about architecture in general.
 

Connoisseur

Platinum Member
Sep 14, 2002
2,470
1
81
Yeah I agree they are a bit gaudy (I too am a fan of minimalism), but the shear intricacy and complexity wins me over in most of these cases.

I'm kinda interested in your thoughts on "minimalism" vs. "gaudy". While I agree gothic architecture is beautiful, i find that it has a lot of attention to detail as well. My assumption is that you're not a fan of the more "colorful" tile/art-work or the frequent, omnipresent, repetitive patterns?

Note that i'm not being sarcastic. I'm just curious about the specific elements you like in Middle-Eastern vs. European architecture. If you're a fan of different architectures you may also want to check out the architecture of Indian Hindu temples. The Venkateswara temple at Tirupati is a great example:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=...=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi#start=0&imgsz=l&tbo=1

I find Hindu architecture is generally MUCH less colorful (as many of the buildings are built out of granite stones) but has the intricate details reminiscent of Gothic.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
Just imagining how much effort it must have taken to paint some of those buildings makes me exhausted.

I hope they never host a conference on epilepsy at the Taj Mahal.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,857
31,346
146
The architecture in the OP is stunning, but all the xenophobic American prats can think to discuss is their idiotic and false preconceived notions. How is my picture any more offensive than what was posted above it?

both are offensive, and while I can sit here and appreciate you cramming the same type of ignorance back at guyver...that is a subject you simply do not touch on a US-based forum.

While I'm one of those that can "get" what you're saying here, it is simply beyond the pale to not understand the type of reaction that you are inducing.
 

beepandbop

Banned
Aug 11, 2006
73
0
0
Cry me a river guyver. When you learn to not be a racist toolbag let me know and I'll be more considerate of your feelings then.

What a self righteous little twat you are

He and guyver have already been vacationed for trolling this thread, would you like to join them?

ATOT Moderator ElFenix
 
Last edited by a moderator:

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,857
31,346
146
If only these cultures put the same value on human life as they do the architecture inspired by the love for their religion. Hell, half the time they don't even respect the splendor of these places as they subject them to explosions based solely on marginal differences of belief (Sunni vs. Shiite).

We as a people (Americans) have all but marginalized our hate groups (KKK, etc.), but Islamic societies seem to almost revere theirs.

I agree that the architecture is amazing, so it is sad that in many of these places, absolute hatred of non-Muslims and Americans is so pervasive. A truly enlighted culture would refute the leaders who preach hatred in these places.

Majority Islamic societies do not revere their hate groups. It is simply that when you subject large populations of people to poverty and non-representation, it's easy for the crazies to exploit the uneducated masses, all of whom simply want to eat and provide for their children (certainly you would be pushed to the limit of what you could do when faced with this type of life), and exercise a greater power and influence than can be done in the states.

Honestly, the vast majority of people in Islamic countries really do want the type of representation and freedom that we have, bu the crazies have managed to establish themselves as the dominant police force, providers, and cultural influence.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
146
106
www.neftastic.com
Thanks for the link OP

Man, I almost went to Oman last year for a science expedition, and was planning a mega vacation of Oman --> Dubai --> Istanbul --> Amsterdam --> London --> NY --> and back home to SD.. but it all got foiled due to the pirates.. our expedition was canceled indefinitely until piracy goes down in that area.

I was really looking forward to watching this stuff in person. My coworker and I were ultra bummed. Oh well, out ultra expedition + vacation will have to wait. *shakes fist at pirates*

Wow... a trip itinerary like that would probably put you on the terrorist watch list these days. Not trying to be an ass... just sayin!