Dictionary of Islamic Architecture   Minaret Tower-like structure usually associated with mosques or other religious buildings. Definition Although the mosques of Damascus, Fustat and Medina had towers during the Umayyad period it is now generally agreed that the minaret was introduced during the Abbasid period (i.e. after 750 CE). Six mosques dated to the early ninth century all have a single tower or minaret attached to the wall opposite the mihrab. The purpose of the minaret in these mosques was to demonstrate the power of Abbasid religious authority. Those opposed to Abbasid power would not adopt this symbol of conformity, thus Fatimid... [more] See also Cairo; East Africa; India; Iran; Iraq; Mosque Further Reading D. Berens-Abouseif, The Minarets of Cairo, Cairo 1985. J. Bloom, Minaret: Symbol of Islam. Oxford 1989. K. A. C. Creswell. The evolution of the minaret with special reference to Egypt', Burlington Magazine 48. 1926; 134-40, 252-8, 290-8. R. Hillenbrand, Islamic Architecture: Form. Function and Meaning. Edinburgh 1994. B. O'Kane, 'Seljuk minarets: some new data'. Annales islamologiques 10, 1994: 85-101. G. F. Pijper, The Minaret in Java', India Antiqua: A Volume of Essays Presented to Jean Phillipe Vogel, Leiden 1947. Related ArchNet Materials   Site Jami' al-Mutawakkil Publication Creswell and the Origins of the Minaret Images IHC0161 Spiraling minaret ICC0009 Minaret IAA2815 View of prayer hall from mosque... IIR0196 View of the upper two thirds of the... Search Alphabetically A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Legal Notes Contact ArchNet