Islamic geometric patterns
Islamic geometric patterns were the first form of art in the Arabian Peninsula. Most forms of geometric patterns use shapes resembling hexagons, squares, and pentagons. They were originally invented by Euclid, who also invented geometry. They are ususally found on ceilings of churches, in colored or broken glass.
Islamic Geometric Patterns Media
The Shah Nematollah Vali Shrine, Mahan, Iran, 1431. The blue girih-tiled dome contains stars with, from the top, 5, 7, 9, 12, 11, 9 and 10 points in turn. 11-point stars are rare in Islamic art.
Early stage: simple geometric patterns on lustre tiles in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia. 836 onwards
Middle stage patterns on geometric borders around a Mihrab in the Alâeddin Mosque, Konya, Turkey. 1220 onwards
Late stage: geometric, vegetal, and calligraphic patterns around the Mihrab at the Jama Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri. 1571-5
Mosque of Ibn Tulun: window with girih-style 10-point stars (at rear), with floral roundels in octagons forming a frieze at front
Somewhat geometric motifs such as the Wolf's Mouth (Kurt Aǧzi), to protect the flocks against wolves, are often woven into tribal kilims.
A tessellation of glazed ceramic tiles forming colourful geometric patterns in the Alhambra, Spain, which inspired M. C. Escher
Tessellations, arabesques and calligraphy on a wall of the Myrtle court, Alhambra, Granada, Spain
Wooden box inlaid with ivory with zellij-like geometrical motifs. Italy (Florence or Venice) 15th century.
Tomb towers of two Seljuk princes at Kharaghan, Qazvin province, Iran, covered with many different brick patterns like those that inspired Ahmad Rafsanjani to create auxetic materials
