. Architecture, classic and early Christian . en, the pointed arch wasia constant use. It prevailed in Palestine as well as inthe adjacent countries for two centuries before it reachedthe West, and there can be no doubt that it was thereseen by the Western Crusaders, and a knowledge of itsuse and an appreciation of its beauty and convenienceAvere brought back to Western Europe by the returningecclesiastics and others at the end of the First Crusade.* In the eleventh century the splendid Tombs of theCaliphs at Cairo Avere erected,—buildings crowned withdomes of a graceful pointed form, and rema
. Architecture, classic and early Christian . en, the pointed arch wasia constant use. It prevailed in Palestine as well as inthe adjacent countries for two centuries before it reachedthe West, and there can be no doubt that it was thereseen by the Western Crusaders, and a knowledge of itsuse and an appreciation of its beauty and convenienceAvere brought back to Western Europe by the returningecclesiastics and others at the end of the First Crusade.* In the eleventh century the splendid Tombs of theCaliphs at Cairo Avere erected,—buildings crowned withdomes of a graceful pointed form, and remaikable for theexternal decoration which usually covers the whole sur-face of those domes. By this time also, if not earlier, theminaret had become universal. This is a lofty towerof slender proportions, passing from a square base belowto a circular form above (Fig. 187). A minaret isoften divided into several stages. Each stage is thenmarked by a balcony, and is, generally speaking, a * The First Crusade lasted from 1095 to Pig. 183—ALHAiiBBA. Hall op the Abesckerages. 258 MOHAMMEDAN ARCHITECTURE. polygon of a greater number of sides than the stagebelow it. In the interiors of Saracenic buildings what is generallyknown as honeycomb corbelling is constantly employedto fill up corners and effect a change of plan from a squarebelow to a circle or octagon above. This ornament isformed by the use of a series of small brackets, eachcourse of them overhanging those below, and producesan effect some idea of which may be gathered from ourillustration (Fig. 188) of the Hall of the Abencerrages inthe Alhambra. The interiors when not domed are oftencovered by wooden or plaster ceilings, more or less richlydecorated, such as are shoAvn in the view of one of thearcades of the Mosque El Moyed, Cairo (Fig. 189),where the horse-shoe and pointed arches can both be illustration also shows timber ties, at the feet ofthe arches, such as were commonly used by the earli
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