International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences
www.ijetmas.com April 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4, ISSN 2349-4476
The Significant of Islamic Architecture Heritage at Baghdad
City, Iraq – Case Studies of Shrine of Lady Zumurrud Khatun
and Omar Al-Sahrawardi
Omar Khasro Akram1, Sumarni Ismail2, Daniel José Franco3
1
Master Science in Architecture at Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia
2
Lecturer at Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia
3
PhD in Computer Networks at Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia
Abstract
This research addresses the Islamic Architecture heritage present in Baghdadi city, focusing two case studies, the Shrine
of Lady Zumurrud Khatun and the Shrine of Omar Sahrawardi, chosen because of their similar and unique features and
for being good examples of Seljuk architecture. Baghdad city was founded in the 8 th century becoming the capital of the
Abbasid Caliphate and due to its strategic location near the rivers, it has easily became the centre of the Islamic world
and, consequently, presenting magnificent Islamic architecture.The study adopts the methodology of case studies in
order to better identify the main features present in conical domes and their muqarnas. These features are a truly Islamic
creation and they cannot be found on any other civilization, which make them so unique.Also known by alveoles and
squinches, the muqarnas and domes are built in a way to achieve geometrical complexity and symmetry types, being the
most fascinating aspects of these structures.
1. Introduction
Islamic architecture styles, spread wide all over the
world, includes a large type of religious and secular
styles, highly influencing not just the designs but
also the structures and building constructions in the
Islamic culture. It is possible to identify different
types of Islamic architecture, that have enriched the
structural shapes, starting from Mosques, Schools,
Forts, Gardens, Houses, Domes, Unique Arches,
Vaults and so on.The rich vocabulary created by the
Islamic architecture may also be used by buildings
that present a more reduced importance, like
fountains and public baths, between others.
Regarding Islamic architectural heritage, it can also
provide good knowledge when dealing with hard
environmental conditions. With the harsh climate in
Baghdad City, with a long summer period came the
harsh climate solutions to reduce the difference in
temperature between the inside and the outside.
Geometrical ornaments are present in all Islamic
architecture styles and calligraphic, being known all
over the world as the embodiment of mathematical
and geometrical proportions.
Islamic art favors geometry in general and
geometrical proportion in particular which carry
great importance in the design process of Islamic
art.
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Structural dimensions, such as height, length and
width, make the building behaves correctly.
Islamic architecture styles provide multiple stylistic
developments for constructions and designs mainly
to assist on the building’s function, providing
harmonization and emotional sense of the
constructional elements, like decorative elements,
columns and so on.
2. Baghdad City Historical Background
Baghdad City was founded in the 8th century and
became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. The
city is located along the Tigris river and short time
after its foundation it became an important
commercial, cultural and intellectual centre in the
Islamic world.
During the High Middle Ages, Baghdad City was
considered as the biggest city in the world, having a
population of around 1.2 million people. In 1258,
the Mongol Empire destroyed large part of the city
and, later on, Baghdad recovered some of its
significant centre of Arab culture.
Due to its excellent location and water abundance,
the city started growing, taking control over
strategic and trading routes located along the Tigris
river. In such harsh weather, water is an important
factor for the city and its population and its
Omar Khasro Akram, Sumarni Ismail, Daniel José Franco
International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences
www.ijetmas.com April 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4, ISSN 2349-4476
existence both in the north and south ends of the
city, allows inhabitants to not suffer with its need.
Analyzing the ancient form of the city, it was
composed by two large semicircles of about 19Km
of diameter.
The city was designed as a circle about 2 km in
diameter, leading it to be known as the "Round
City" (Figure 1).
Figure 1 - Shows Baghdad round city (Source:
Cielotech)
At its original design the city presented a single
circle of residential and commercial places, along of
the inside part of the city walls,but the final design
implemented a new smaller circle inside the first
one. Baghdad round city had four main gates,
named Kufa, Basra, Khurasan and Syria, named
like this due to their location, pointing toward these
places. The distance between them was around
2,4Km and each one of the gates had double doors,
made of iron, which were too heavy, needing
several men to open and close them. The walls
presented a thickness of 44m at the base and 12m at
the top, with a high of 30m. Surrounding this wall,
there was another wall with a thickness of 50m,
having also a few towers, protected by solid glacis,
made of bricks and quicklime.
3. Islamic Architectural Elements – Domes and
Muqarnas
Among the large number of Islamic architectural
elements, this research focus just on conical domes
and muqarnas, taking two different case studies in
order to better describe their characteristics and
structures that make them unique.
Deriving from the Latin language, domus,a dome
consists in an architectural element that looks like
the upper half of a hollow sphere, however its
specific definition is not clearly defined, existing a
varied number of forms and specialized terms to
identify them.Usually supported by columns or
piers that convert to the dome through squinches or
134
pendentives, the dome rests upon a rotunda or drum
and a lantern may cover an oculus or may have
another dome itself.
There are a lot of different materials used in domes
constructions, like mud, stone, wood, bricks,
concrete, plastic, metal and glass, representing a
long architectural lineage that comes from the
prehistoric times. Domes are usually known also as
symbols of celestial, governmental and mortuary
traditions and may be found since early
Mesopotamia era. Iranian domes styles, like
conical, pyramidal and polyhedral domes, are
important features in the development of tomb
towers and shrines, and their geometry and
proportions are considered the key factors in their
unique designs.
Some aspects show that the emergence of the dome
occurred in the first or second century AD, noting
that the buildings curvature system had begun in the
middle of the fourth century BC, however the exact
date of their appearance is not exactly known.
According to specialized researchers in architecture,
domes appeared in the in Iraq and in Levant (Bilad
Sham), being Iraq the first to invent the basic
architecture domes principles. The reason for
creating such architectural element may be due to
natural and environmental factors. The Iraqi
construction led towards the exploration of flexible
mud materials and bricks, which were largely
available on the area and the environment nature
guided to the development of new construction
methods, avoiding the problems faced on older
methods.
One of the features provided by the domes are the
reflection of solar radiation that hits the outer
surface of the convex, providing a better thermal
environment during harsh summer seasons. Its form
helps dealing with the gravity distribution, caused
by roof construction parts, as well as for building
foundations, achieving a great aesthetical and
ornamental purpose and giving the sense of sanctity
and grandeur to the building.
One of the most original Islamic architectural
elements and one the most effective and widespread
is the muqarnas. The dome in muqarnas is a truly
Islamic creation, without precedent in any
civilization. Their features include a construction
made of small and distinct cells, also known by
alveoles, squinches, colonnettes and other structural
obscured features. Layers of stucco, paint, or glazed
Omar Khasro Akram, Sumarni Ismail, Daniel José Franco
International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences
www.ijetmas.com April 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4, ISSN 2349-4476
tiles are often used to embellish the cells and
windows are frequently used, though in a doubleshell design and they are only possible at the base
of the dome.
Muqarnas first developed, around the 10th century,
in northeastern Iran, and, at the same time, but in an
independent way, in central North Africa. It is
possible to find some examples in different
countries, like the Abbasid Palace in Baghdad City,
Iraq, Alhambra in Granada, Spain, the Mausoleum
of Sultan Qaitbay in Cairo, Egypt and the Capella
Palatina in Palermo, Sicily.
Focusing on their structure, muqarnas are usually
applied to the undersides of domes, cornices,
pendentives, arches, vaults and squinches.
Presenting a downwards-facing shape, it is possible
to trace a line between the floor and any point on
the muqarnas surface. Muqarnas can be planed
geometrically, providing a unique visual form
(Figure 2).
Figure 3 – Shows the Shrine of Lady Zumurrud
Khatun (Source: crd.gov.iq)
Shrine of Lady Zumurrud Khatun
Figure 2 – Shows the muqarnas geometrical shapes
(Source: Farm7 at Flickr.com)
Carved into the structural blocks of the corbelled
vault, the muqarnas do not present a substantial
structure role and can be used as a simple
decorative element, hanging on the roof.
4. The Shrine Of Lady Zumurrud Khatun,
Baghdad City, Iraq – Case Study
The shrine of Lady Zumurrud Khatun (Figure 3) is
one of the most famous landmarks of Seljuk
architecture represented today in Baghdad City,
capital of the Abbasid, and is a unique example of
the full maturity and magnificent muqarnas domes
famous in the Seljuk architecture. The shrine is
located in the western side of Baghdad City, Iraq,
and to the south-west of the shrine of Sheikh
Marouf Karkhi, not farway from the Baghdad main
railway station.
135
Figure 4 – Shows the location of the Shire of Lady
Zumurrud Khatun (Source: Google Maps)
In an incorrect way, Lady Zumurrud Khatun is
associated to Lady Zubeida, married to Caliph
Harun Al-Rashid, who was buried in the Qureish
cemeteries in Al-Kadhimeyya, but in fact Lady
Zumurrud Khatun was married to Caliph AlMustadhi Bi-Amrillah and got her shrine
constructed, in around 1202 AD, during the reign of
her son, the Caliph Al-Naser Li Dinillah.
This shrine is characterized byan impressive
technique and style, whichhas never been seen
before, in that era in Baghdad City and consists on
an octagonal chamber with a fancy architectural
cone-shaped towering.It has most graceful profile
and one of the most integrated interiors among the
monuments of its kind. One reason the dome
success is due to its octagonal base, that is, half the
transition has already been made.
Baghdadi homebuilders have been used in the
construction of the dome. Its muqarnas range from
the bottom up, ending at the top of the dome, which
presents, until nowadays, an unusual, but
Omar Khasro Akram, Sumarni Ismail, Daniel José Franco
International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences
www.ijetmas.com April 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4, ISSN 2349-4476
magnificent shape. The shrine went through several
phases of construction – Governor of Baghdad
Ottoman Nazim Pasha in 1328 AH – 1910 AD and,
later on, the Antiquities and Heritage Department to
Reconstruction in 1392 AH – 1972 AD.
Above an extremely unobtrusive squinch zone, the
octagonal base is transformed into a muqarnas
dome of sixteen cells. Seven tiers of sixteen cells
make up the majority of the dome; their number is
cut to ten in the last three tiers. Each cell contains a
tiny opening covered by thick glass, where it is
possible to observe a glow effect (Figure 5).
Figure 6 - Shows the exterior and interior designs of
the Shrine of Lady Zumurrud Khatun (Source:
ArchNet)
The chamber walls are covered with plaster from
the inside, leaving the exterior ones free of
trappings of the paint.
Figure 5 – Shows the interior of the Shrine of Lady
Zumurrud Khatun (Muqarnas) (Source:
Pinterest.com)
The construction of the central chamber presents a
diameter with ranges of about 7.5 meters. The
outside octagon presents a length of around 5.5
meters, while it’s inside have just 3 meters,
resulting in a wall thickness of around 2.5 meters.
The chamber entrance is located in the middle of
the north-eastern side, with a size of around 1.8
meters, disposing also a staircase that leads to the
construction on the left inside surface of the shrine,
with some space attached to the northeast. It is not
found any relation, in terms of design principals, or
in terms of quality of ornamental decisions,
between this construction and the octagonal
chamber. It is believed that such construction was
added later on, during the several repairs carried out
by the Ottoman rulers of Baghdad City.Presenting a
height of around 4.8 meters on its octagonal
chamber, the shrine adds also the height of its
conical dome of muqarnas, of around 9.5 meters,
achieving a total height of 14.3 meters (Figure 6).
136
Figure 7 – Shows the plan of the Shrine of Lady
Zumurrud Khatun (Source: ArchNet)
Omar Khasro Akram, Sumarni Ismail, Daniel José Franco
International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences
www.ijetmas.com April 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4, ISSN 2349-4476
The exterior part of the base is covered with
decorations and each façade is partitioned into four
square sunken panels, two on the bottom and two
on the top, also featuring decorative brickwork.
Nowadays, the shrine is entered from a squareplanned, domed structure that was built to replace
the older one. From this area, a staircase rises up to
the base of the muqarnas dome (Figure 7), while a
tight corridor, just over one meter large leads to the
octagonal burial chamber.
The lengthening of the spans, used in muqarnas, led
to a decrease in the weight of moments or weight of
construction and were made to provide a better
rigidity to the coverage in order to face the possible
dangers or collapse, usually greater in horizontal
roofs or in regular domes. The strength of “reuse”
holding the dome may lead to cracks after some
time of erosion exposure.
5. The Shrine of Omar Al-Sahrawardi,Baghdad
City, Iraq – Case Study
Sheikh Omar Al-Sahrawardi was a famous mystic
and theologian man who died in 1225 AD. Its
shrine was built in the year of 1234 AD and is one
of the oldest shrines in Baghdad, located in the
eastern sector of the city, in the street named after
him, not faraway from the Al-Wastani Gate and
near the Shrine of Lady Zumurrud Khatun (Figure 8
and 9).
Figure 9 - Shows Shrine of Omar Al-Sahrawardi
near the Shrine of Lady Zumurrud Khatun (Source:
iraq-archive.com)
The shrine presents a squared form with a high
conical dome in Seljuk style, with its facades built
with fine curved ornamentation on bricks.
Its construction was initially composed by the
shrine chamber and, later on, it was attached to the
mosque that dates back to the year of 1917
AD.Presenting two entrances, the first is the main
gate from inside of the mosque shows an
informational label, on the upper part of the gate,
mentioning the date of the dome reparation.
The second entrance consists in a narrow passage,
covering the dome on a square shaped room with
the dimensions of 4.70 meters of length, 4.90
meters of width and 6.5 metersof high (Figure 10).
Figure 10 – Shows Shrine of Omar Al-Sahrawardi
squared shape(Source: iraq-archive.com)
Figure 8 – Shows Shrine of Omar Al-Sahrawardi
and the Shrine of Lady Zumurrud Khatun Domes
(Source: merchantcointernational.com)
137
Initially composed by just one original conical
dome, the shrine of Omar Sahrawardi suffered a
few modifications, where a second dome was added
to the whole structure.
When analyzing the shrine façade and its entrance it
is possible to identify the different elements of the
Omar Khasro Akram, Sumarni Ismail, Daniel José Franco
International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences
www.ijetmas.com April 2016, Volume 4, Issue 4, ISSN 2349-4476
Architecture of Baghdad; the Results of a Joint
Italian -Iraqi Survey, 18-22. Napoli: Istituto
Universitario Orientale, 1987.
Seljuk architecture, like muqarnas and decorations
(Figure 11).
Figure 11 – Shows the entrance of the Shrine of
Omar Sahrawardi
6. Conclusions
The selection of the two case studies comes due to
their similar nature and presented features, being
good examples of the Seljuk architecture.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the
geometric structures in Islamic architecture is the
fact that there is no single base for its pattern and
styles, but a large variety of designs and ways of
achieving geometric complexity. In deep
observation it is easy to identify the different
geometric forms present in the muqarnas and how
they connect to each other in order to produce a
unique geometric design.
Different modes and families of patterns and
symmetry types are the result of the local variations
on the muqarnas constructions, being this, the most
fascinating factor of these structures.
The Islamic dedication to symmetry and geometric
decorations and elements, come from the aesthetic
ideals of a classical philosophical tradition that was
methodically absorbed by the Islamic architecture at
the very beginning of its cultural evolution. Islamic
geometrism may be seen as a Platonic form of art,
seeking to discover the vocabulary and issues of
aesthetics.
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7. References
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Akram, Omar Khasro; Ismail, Sumarni; Franco,
Daniel José – “The Cultural Significant of Erbil
City: Case of Traditional Kurdistan Houses”,
IJETMAS, Volume 4, Issue 2, February 2016
Khalil, Jabir and Strika, Vincenzo –“The Islamic
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Omar Khasro Akram, Sumarni Ismail, Daniel José Franco