The Taj Mahal, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World is in Agra, India. A symbol of love, it was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, as well as his own tomb too.
1/ The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India & one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture
2/ A labour force of about 20,000 workers were recruited to build the Taj Mahal. There was also a creative unit of 37 men employed including sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria & Persia, inlayers from southern India & Stone cutters from Baluchistan…
3/ The Taj Mahal appears to change colors depending on available lighting and the time of day — for instance, the monument can appear pink in the morning light, sheer white at noon and a soft golden color after sunset
4/ The marble dome is the Taj Mahal's most recognizable feature, and makes it a prime example of Islamic architecture. Inside, the dome's vaulted ceilings have a carved, honeycomb pattern. The dome is often called an onion dome because of its bell-like shape
5/ The Taj Mahal garden is a green carpet to the mausoleum. It is a four by four garden & is popularly known as Charbagh. The garden is a Persian form. It is believed that the Charbagh is the garden of paradise as mentioned in holy Quran
6/ The architects & craftsmen of the Taj Mahal were masters of proportions & tricks of the eye. When you first approach the main gate that frames the Taj, the monument appears incredibly close and large. But as you get closer, it shrinks in size
8/ The Taj Mahal welcomes its visitors with an inscription, written on the great gate that reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you." Abdul Haq created this in 1609 & was bestowed with the title of 'Amanat Khan'…
9/ The calligraphy of the Taj Mahal mainly consists of the verses and passages from the Qur’an. It was done by inlaying jasper in the white marble panels & were inscribed by Amanat Khan in an illegible Thuluth script. A number of the panels also bear his signatures
10/ Inlaid with lapis lazuli, turquoise & malachite, Taj Mahal mosaics are a testament to the beauty as its power to evoke emotion. Known locally as Parchin Kari many who have come to personally see the Taj Mahal have also come to appreciate the detailed craftsmanship
11/ It is said that the existence of Parchin Kari indicates the presence of Italian craftsmen in the Mughal court due to its similarity with the Roman pietra dura. Parchin Kari is still unique & its development in India is viewed as a milestone when it comes to art
13/ Made with a base of white Makarana Marble, artisans spent time mining the materials, securing the precious stones & crafting the finest details of the mosaics of the Taj Mahal. The Mughal Emperor employed the best inlay workers, giving them a place to live & work
14/ Each mosaic shows precision, elegance, & delicateness, perhaps portraying the Shah’s tender love for his fragile queen. The polished stones and the meticulous handiwork are able to accent the entire structure, adding beauty without being overly complex
15/ The dazzling engravings on the walls of the Taj Mahal are amazing intricate designs that speak for itself. The marbles that were used to build the Taj Mahal were originally from Makrana, Rajasthan
Ever wondered who paved the way for the age of algorithms?
It was a 9th-century Muslim genius, mathematician, geographer & astronomer, Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi - also known as the Father of Algebra
A thread on the incredible Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi…
1/ Even the term algorithm is Al-Khwarizmi translated into Latin!
The scientist and mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi lived from 780 to 850 AD in Persia and Iraq.
2/ Al-Khwarizmi's most significant contribution to mathematics was the development of algebra. His book, "Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), introduced systematic methods for solving linear and quadratic equations.
Latinized names of scholars who worked within Islamic culture and wrote mostly in Arabic.
Some are amongst the greatest minds in human history.
A thread…
1/ Ibn Sinã
Latinized
Avicenna
(11th c. CE)
The Muslim world's preeminent philosopher/physician, flourishing during the Islamic Golden Age. His book Qanün ut-Tibb influenced Europe until the 16th c. Of Persian birth but wrote mostly in Arabic.
2/ Ibn Rushd
Latinized
Averroës
(12th c. CE)
Arab Andalusian polymath who wrote on many subjects, including philosophy and medicine. The most influential commentator on Aristotle, he was known in the West as the 'Father of Rationalism.'
Turkey is a treasure trove of architectural wonders, natural beauty & ancient history. The country is at the point where Europe & Asia collide - it is this transcontinental culture-clash that enriches Turkey’s heritage.
A thread on Turkey’s beautiful cities & villages...
1/ Safranbolu A town in the Black Sea region of northern Turkey, once a stop on the trade route between Europe and the Orient. Its Ottoman architecture includes the old Çarşı district, with hundreds of preserved, red-roofed Ottoman houses on cobblestone streets
1.1/ Safranbolu is more of a museum-city, with its cobblestone streets, hill houses & natural beauty evidence of its worthiness of being declared a cultural asset. It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites due to its well-preserved Ottoman era houses & architecture
For #StarWarsDay here is the awesome work of @_Muratpalta who illustrates iconic movies in Ottoman miniature style.
‘Ottoman Star Wars’ is one of his most renowned works #MayThe4thBeWithYou
A thread on @_Muratpalta Ottoman miniature take on movies…
1/ Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, Ottoman Miniature Style @_Muratpalta
A 1971 fantasy film which tells the story of a poor child named Charlie Bucket who, after finding a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, visits Willy Wonka's chocolate factory with four other children
As you probably guessed, this work depicts the final moments of Scarface (1983), where Tony Montana takes revenge on a team of assassins who have infiltrated his lavish compound
Arabic has many names and epithets for the lion. Almost all are poetic and rarely used outside of literary texts and proper names. The only generic word for lion is أسد (asad), lioness is لبؤة (labu'ah) & cub is شبل (shibl.)
Shah-i-Zinda is one Samarkand’s most beloved sites, which contains some of the richest tile work in the world. The magnificent architecture draws inspiration from multiple periods & styles, taking you back through time & across cultures
A thread on the beauty of Shah-i-Zinda…
1/ The Shah-i-Zinda ensemble includes mausoleums, mosques & other ritual buildings of 11-15th & 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda (meaning The living king) is connected with the legend that Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is buried here
📷 Ash Diler
2/ Shah-i-Zinda is a world-famous example of a continuously constructed historical site. Over 1,000 years ago, it was founded with a single religious monument. Between the 11th & 19th centuries, mosques & mausoleums were continuously added