Spirituality and Art Part 2
Sacred Places Temples, Synagogues, Cathedrals & Churches and Mosques
Egyptians had two types of temples cult and funerary. Cults temples reside on the east side of the Nile River and funerary temples are on the west side. Abu Simbel Temple of Ramesses II 1264 BCE
Egyptian Temple Temple of Isis Philae, Egypt continuous building 560 BCE 120 BCE Isis goddess of health, marriage and wisdom Egyptian temples have two large symmetrical front pylons which flank the entrance to the temple complex. The pylon façades had carved reliefs and were brightly painted.
Egyptian Temple Aligned to the landscape with a north-south axis to parallel the Nile River and east-west marking the path of the sun god Re, symbolizing life, death & resurrection. Sanctuary in the Temple of Horus Computer generated imagery of Temple of Isis Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun
Temple of Poseidon 440 444 BCE Greek Temple Characteristics of a Greek temple used a post-and-lintel system in colonnaded porches on all four sides with a concentric center room and covered with a wooden roof. A decorative frieze relief (below) wrapped around the building above the columns and there were two triangular pediments on the two short sides of the rectangular form. Only the priests entered the sacred areas of the temples and ceremonies were held outside. The exteriors of temples were richly decorated with sculptures and were brightly painted. Frieze from the Parthenon
Greek Temple Iktinos and Kallikrates Parthenon Athens, Greece 447-432 BCE 228 x 104 Pentelic marble Parthenon Marbles British Museum From the pediment (the triangular piece on the two short sides of the rectangle), these original marble sculptures were taken off the Parthenon and other buildings on the acropolis in Athens and shipped to London by Lord Elgin in 1801-1812, while he was the British ambassador. Do you feel these marbles sculptures should be returned to Athens?
A lofty, wooden, sometimes tiered, colorful pagoda style is more of an association with Buddhist temples. Overhanging eaves provide shelter from the sun and rain. Complexes have a north-south axis and sited to relate to fengshui (wind & water). Interior posts represent seasons, months or day & night. Buddhist Temple Buddhist temple Thailand Longhua Temple & Pagoda Shanghai
Synagogues were designed to compliment prevailing styles within a city, blending in for fear of persecution or from destruction of their property from other religious groups and/or cultures. A synagogue is a house of assembly, used for prayer, not necessarily worship. Green domes are common. Synagogues contain libraries, schools and day-care centers for the Jewish community. Jewish Synagogue Central Synagogue New York City 1872 Great Synagogue of Rome 1901-1904 Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg Russia 1880-1888
Jewish Synagogue Beth El Synagogue Casablanca, Morocco David Ascalon Stained glass windows, Ark and ner tamid (eternal flame) Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Houston, Texas Stained glass windows, interlacing triangles forming the Star of David, Torah Ark and Menorahs are symbolic representations in the interior of a synagogue.
Spires and bell towers to call parishioners to worship and to symbolized the link between the church s role linking heaven and Earth. Christian Cathedrals Buttressing for support of taller walls and larger vault areas. Cathedral de Notre Dame Paris, France 1163-1235
Cathedral de Notre Dame Nave interior Christian Cathedral Ribbed vault construction with tiered lancets. Floor plan designed in the symbol of a cross to represent the crucifixion of Christ. A rose window above the main entrance, shaped liked a blooming flower as a symbol of Mary. Traceries of stained glass allowed more light and were symbols of heavenly radiance.
Islamic Mosque Islamic mosques have green domes and usually four minarets (towers) and dominate the landscape. Reflecting pools are common. No icons, statues or images on the exterior or interior of mosques. Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I Istanbul, Turkey 1609-1617 77 dia (23.5 m) x 141 h (43 m) dome
Mosques have written Arabic passages on blue and white tiled walls. Windows are covered in patterned screens or stained glass. Islamic religion requires that followers pray five times a day while bowing toward Mecca. On Fridays, men are required to attend collective prayer services in mosques to be cleansed. Assembling on beautiful patterned rugs for prayer, sermons and readings from the Qur an. Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmed I Istanbul, Turkey 1609 1617
Mihrab Iran 1354 CE A mihrab is a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying.
Contemporary Structures for non-denominational gatherings
Frank Lloyd Wright Unity Temple Oak Park, IL. 1909
Mark Rothko The Rothko Chapel Houston, Texas 1971
Great Mosque Samarra, Iraq 848-852 CE Philip Johnson Chapel of Thanksgiving Dallas, TX. 1976
Tadao Ando Church on the Water Tomamu, Hokkaido, Japan 1988