People Walking at the Temple of Karnak
Scale shown through the people compared to the columns. The very looming appearance of the columns inspires awe in the people looking at them.
Extravagance in Scale
Extravagance can be expressed through scale, often best seen through architecture. The larger the building the more awe it inspires, especially when it comes to Islamic palaces and mosques. Throughout every era of Islamic history, the extravagance of the significant often triumphs the intricate. The architectural features of five different palaces and mosques demonstrate the use of scale to express extravagance. The first being Khirbet al-Mafjar, an Umayyad desert palace located in Jericho, Palestine known for its notably large audience/bath hall that contains a 8900 sq ft mosaic carpet. As Khirbet al-Mafjar presents an extravagant bath hall, the Masjid-e Jameh of Isfahan in Iran is a mosque known for its four lavish iwans, two intricately designed domes, and immaculate tilework added over centuries of growth and modification by each dynasty who occupied it. The immense variety of architectural elements grants the Masjid-e Jameh the title of the Great Mosque of Isfahan. The Shah Mosque muqarnas, constructed during the Safavid empire, is composed of replicated-tiered units to create a three-dimensional, honeycomb-like arrangement, conveying cosmic themes and the Islamic idea of the Absolute Truth. The Muqarnas Dome of the Alhambra Hall of the Abencerrajes was created in the 14th century CE in Granada, Spain during the Nasrid dynasty, the last dynasty in Spain. The dome is made out of tiny stucco cells painted with tiles featuring complex geometric and floral patterns that showcase grandeur and extravagance. Finally, the Süleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman Mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey known as Mimar Sinan’s greatest architectural achievement. Built to rival the Hagia Sophia, its numerous domes and towering minarets contribute to its grandiose scale as a means of exhibiting extravagance. While each of these architectural feats is unique due to their own stylistic elements, each radiates a similar feeling of awe and extravagance due to their sheer scale.
The Muqarnas Dome in The Hall Of Abencerrajes
Muqarnas at Shah Mosque- Museum Label and Object Page
The Süleymaniye Mosque - Museum Label