SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE.

671
supported on massive circular pillars and is surrounded by semi-
domes, and in the four angles, bringing the plan to a square, are
smaller domes. Blue tiles form a special feature of the interior.
There are six minarets, marking the boundaries of the
mosque
and forecourt.
The fountains at Constantinople and other Eastern cities are
special features of interest (No. 293). They have a niche on each
face and wide-spreading eaves to the roof. The water tank,
inclosed by a grating or grille, from which the metal cups are
filled, occupies a central position. The exterior is often faced with
marble or ornamented in plaster or glazed tiles, having arabesques
and inscriptions in gold letters on blue and green grounds.

(g-) INDIAN SARACENIC.

As already mentioned (page 610), Indian Saracenic must have
been influenced by the remains of the Sassanian Empire (A.D. 226-
641). The various dynasties, with their dates, have been given
under Historical (page 656). These periods overlap consider
ably, and render the progress of the style difficult to classify
shortly.Only a tew of the principal structures can be even
mentioned. The use of marble and sandstone gives a monu-
mental character to the buildings, not possessed by other types
of Saracenic architecture. The dome on the square plan is used,
but the stalactite pendentive appears to have been uncommon,
its place being taken by a peculiar form of arching and cor
belling in horizontal courses (No. 294 J). Colossal pointed portal
arches, with semi-domes (No. 294 E) and round minarets, are special
features.
Delhi, the capital of the Pathan dynasty in the thirteenth
century, became the capital of the Indian Mahometan Empire,
and may be compared in its architectural importance with Athens,
Rome, or Constantinople.Amongst numerous ruins of inosques
and tombs are the Kutub Mosque and Kutub Minaret, a
fine model of the latter being at the Indian Museum, South
Kensington.
The Tomb of Shere Shah, at Sasseram, stands on a platform
with angle pavilions, in the middle of a sheet of water. It is
octagonal on plan, surmounted by a dome, as are also the angles
atthe receding stages.
The Jumma Musjid (i.e., principal mosque), Jaunpore (1419),
keel-arches and bracket
and the Atala Musjid, slabs.
have pointed
capitals, with roofs of flat
The Jumma Musjid, Ahmedabad (1411), shows the influence
of Hindu trabeated architecture in conjunction with the pointed
arch. It has fifteen domes of different heights, each supported
on

twelve pillars.
 SARACENIC EXAMPLES IN INDIA.

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 SARACENIC (INDIAN) ARCHITECTURE.

it nilond

295. MosgUE OF FUTTEHPORE-SIKRI.

Western Gateway, showing typical treatment of half-domed Entrance with recessed doorway.
 SARACENIc (INDIAN) ARCHITECTURE.

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296. MARBLE ToMB OF SELIM CHISTEE AT FUTTEHPORE-SIKRI.

Showing peculiar type of bracket capital and tracery windows.
 SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE.
675
The celebrated Jumma Musjid, Mandu (1405-1432),
of an inclosed space 290 teet by 275 feet, having a squareconsists
court-
yard, surrounded on each side by arcades of eleven pointed
arches. The piérs supporting these are of red sandstone, and
numberless pointed domes crown the spaces between them.
The Adinah Mosque is at Gaur, the ancient capital of Bengal.
The arcades surrounding, the rectangle are crowned by no less
than 385, domes of similar design. The architecture of this
provinceis influenced by the absence of stone. Brick is the
building material, and an essentially arcuated style is the result.
At Kalburgah is a mosque which is a deviation from the normal
type, in that the whole area, 216 feet by 176 feet, was roofed in
by a series of domes, light being introduced through high pointed
arched openings in the outer walls.
Bijapur possesses some famous examples, erected under the
Adil Shaki dynasty. The Jumma Musjid, Bijapur (A.D. 1557-
1579)(No. 294 H, J) occupies a rectangle of 257 feet by 331 feet.
It consists of a series of squares, each covered with a flat dome.
In this building and the Tomb of Mahmúd are domes with
Singular pendentives. The latter building has a dome, 97 feet in
diameter, placed on a platform formed by intersecting pendentive
arches carried from each alternate pier; thus the space to be covered
is reduced, and the weight of the pendentives acting inwards
tends to counteract the outward thrust of the dome, as at the
Jumma Musjid, Bijapur (No. 294 J).
Mogul Architecture.-The architecture of all previous periods
was eclipsed by the architecture of the Mogul dynasty (a.D. 1526-
I761).Some of the principal examples are tombs, and were
erected at Agra, the capital. These were mostly octagonal,
erected on a garden platform, and laid out with ornamental foun-
tains, the angles and entrances being accentuated by domed
pavilions. Such tombs were, during the lifetime of the founder,
used as festal halls.
At Futtehpore Sikhri, King Akbar (1556-1605) erected a group
of important buildings, one of which is the Mosque (No. 294 D, E).
This is a three-domed structure, 29o feet by 8o feet, occupying
one side of an open court, the whole inclosure measuring 550 feet
by 470 feet, and containing two royal tombs. The southern andd
western gateways are specially noteworthy (Nos. 294 E and 295)
as being of a style which prevailed throughout the period, and
which may be contrasted with the Greek, Roman and Gothic
styles in the treatment of entrance gateways. In the example
(No. 295) the doorway is placed at the back of a recessed opening.
which is crowned by a semi-dome. By this means the openings
led up to the high inclosing arch of the outer wall by an easy
all the size and dignity required for a noble
gradation, giving
portal without disturbing the æsthetic qualities of scale.
XX 2
 SARACENIC (INDIAN) ARCHITECTURE.

297. THE TAJ MEnÁL, AGRA.

 SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE.
677
In the courtyard of this mosque is the marble Tomb of Selim
Chistee (No. 294 D, F, G), with broad spreading eaves and
elaborately carved bracket capitals (Nos. 296 and 298 F), of which
there is a cast in the Indian Museum, South Kensington. The
windows have pierced tracery of geometric pattern, a characteristic
Saracenic treatment (No. 296).
The celebrated Dewan-Kas, or private audience hall, of which
a plan and elevation are given (No. 298 H, ), has inlay work of
precious stones on its walls.
Shah Jehan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar, erected at New
Delhi a palace of great size, of which only portions remain. It
occupied a space of 1,600 feet by 3,20o feet, and had immense
portal, entrance hall, courtyards, bazaars, audience and music
halls, baths and gardens, besides accommodation for distinguished
guests and court attendants.
The Taj-Mehál, Agra (No. 294 A, B, c), was also erected
by Shah Jehan. It forms a part of one of the most famous
groups of architectural monuments in the world. It is a royal
mausoleum of white marble placed in the centre of a raised
plattorm 18 feet high and 313 feet square, each angle being
marked by a minaret 133 feet high. In plan it is symmetrical
being a square ot I86 feet, with the angles taken off. It has a
central dome, 8o teet high (No. 294 C) and 58 teet in diameter,
crowned by an outer dome of the same height (No. 297). Around
the central dome are two-storied aisles, each angle being pro-
vided with a small dome supported on pillars. The entrances
are in the centre of each face and are of the usual recessed type,
crowned with a four-centred arch set in a square irame. The
light to the interior is introduced through two pierced marble
screens in the upper story, producing a dim and subdued effect
on the interior. The Táj is fanmous for its inlay of
specially
precious stonesjasper, bloodstone and agate, in ornamental
scrolls and fretwork-which impart a rich effect to the fabric.
In its setting of cypress trees, marble fountains, lakes and
terraces (No. 297), the Táj produces an enchanting effect, which
has been remarked by all travellers.
Shah Jehan also erected other notable buildings, including the
Muti Musjid, or Pearl Mosque, Agra. It is built of white
marble, and is a three-domed mosque, placed on one side of a
court, about I50 teet square.
The Jumma Musjid, Delhi, has a similar type of plan. It
is built of red sandstone and white marble, and is peculiar in
being designed only for external effect, but seldom sought for in
mosques (see page 656).
After Shah Jehan, few buildings of importance were erected,
but a decline set in, due in part to the introduction of European
modes and the influence of Classic revivalism.