Post

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
Click again on or Share Via icon
Click on Copy Link to Tweet
Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
More info at Twitter Help

Culture Explorer

Apr 5, 2024 • 12 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X

Scrolly

During the Dark Ages, the spread of Islam introduced a unique blend of cultural and architectural innovations worldwide, creating a distinct architectural style.

Let us explore the key elements of Islamic architecture. 🧵⤵️

Rooted in the early Islamic period, this architectural style has evolved by assimilating various elements from Mesopotamian, Roman, Byzantine, Chinese, and Mughal architectures.

One of the hallmark features of Islamic architecture is the dome, a structural element that not only serves as a significant component of mosque design but also symbolizes the heavens.

Arches are another defining characteristic of Islamic architecture, serving as gateways to the divine.

Minarets, towering above mosque complexes, serve both as architectural landmarks and as points from which the call to prayer is issued.

Islamic decorations, known for their use of geometric patterns, calligraphy, and floral motifs, demonstrate a profound appreciation for symmetry and continuity.

The intricate decorative feature known as Muqarnas, which resembles stalactites or honeycombs, showcases the complexity and artistic creativity of Islamic architecture.

The Mihrab, a semicircular niche indicating the direction of the Qibla, is a focal point in mosque design, guiding worshippers in their prayers.

Courtyards and gardens are integral to Islamic architecture, providing serene environments for communal gatherings and personal reflection.

Hypostyle halls, with their grid of columns supporting a roof, are a testament to the Islamic architectural preference for spaces that inspire awe and spiritual reflection.

The Iwan, an architectural element characterized by a vaulted space open on one side, exemplifies the Islamic architectural tradition's ability to merge form with function, providing a majestic yet welcoming entrance to mosques and palaces.

An article on Islamic architecture was published today in our newsletter:

If you enjoy content like this,
1) follow @CultureExploreX and
2) subscribe to our newsletter: thecultureexplorer.beehiiv.com/p/elements-isl…
thecultureexplorer.beehiiv.com

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @CultureExploreX

Culture Explorer

@CultureExploreX

Apr 24

You’ve seen his words quoted.
His plays re-staged.
His characters meme-ified.

But what if I told you Shakespeare shaped the way painters, sculptors, and illustrators captured emotion for centuries?

This isn’t just about literature. It’s about art history. 🧵

Most people never notice this—but walk through any European gallery, and you’ll find ghosts of Hamlet, Macbeth, or Lear staring back at you.

Here’s the story of how Shakespeare became one of the most powerful muses in visual art…

In the 18th century, British painters didn’t just revere Shakespeare—they canonized him.

Artists like Joshua Reynolds and Henry Fuseli created paintings so dramatic, they looked like staged scenes from Shakespeare’s mind.

Why? Because he gave them license to go wild.

Read 15 tweets

Culture Explorer

@CultureExploreX

Apr 22

Most people think a pope dies, and that’s it. Funeral, mourning, next man up.

But what actually happens behind Vatican walls?

It’s one of the oldest and most secretive rituals in the world. And it just got triggered. 🧵👇

Pope Francis is gone. He passed away on Easter Monday.

And now, the Vatican enters a phase it hasn’t faced in 20 years—The Papal Interregnum.

Here’s what’s really going on…

and what happens next.

The moment a pope dies, everything stops. The Papal Apartment gets sealed.

Even though Francis didn’t live there, the tradition stands.

It marks the end of his reign. No turning back.

Read 20 tweets

Culture Explorer

@CultureExploreX

Apr 21

“Men did not love Rome because she was great.
She was great because they had loved her.”
– G. K. Chesterton

That love wasn’t abstract. It was carved in marble, painted in fresco, and built into domes.

Rome’s architecture doesn’t just impress—it overwhelms. 🧵👇

From secret palaces to churches that play tricks on your eyes...

Rome isn't just ancient ruins.

It’s an art installation built across centuries.

Once you see this, you’ll never look at the city the same again.

1. Vatican Museums

Each hallway is a visual delight.

Especially the Gallery of Maps and the Raphael Rooms.

The ceilings alone are more ambitious than most modern buildings.

Read 18 tweets

Culture Explorer

@CultureExploreX

Apr 20

“Beauty perishes in life, but is immortal in art.” – Leonardo da Vinci

But what does immortal beauty look like?

Here are ten soul-piercing sculptures that will haunt you or will leave you breathless. 🧵👇

1. Michelangelo’s Pietà

It is Easter Sunday. And only befitting to start with Michelangelo's masterpiece.

She doesn’t scream.

She cradles him—broken, lifeless—her face frozen in grace. Carved from marble before Michelangelo turned 25.

One block. One chisel. One mother’s eternal grief.

2. Bernini’s Abduction of Proserpina

Fingers grip flesh. Marble bends like skin.

This isn’t just sculpture. It’s a moment of terror, power, and desperation—frozen forever.

Bernini was only 23.

Read 14 tweets

Culture Explorer

@CultureExploreX

Apr 18

It’s Good Friday. Jesus was crucified.

But what happened to the 12 who followed Him? They didn’t fade into silence.

They were hunted, tortured, and killed—one by one.

And yet, they never turned back.

Their final moments will wreck you. 🧵👇

You’ve heard of the 12 apostles.
But you probably don’t know how they died.

After the resurrection, the apostles gathered in Jerusalem.

They shared everything. Prayed together.
Then came Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit filled them with fire—and they began preaching with fearless power.

But they were crucified, flayed, beheaded, speared. All for refusing to stay silent.

This is the untold story of what became of Jesus’ closest followers...

Peter

Once a fisherman, then the rock of the Church.

He denied Jesus three times—but spent the rest of his life making up for it.

He built the Church in Rome… and was crucified upside down.

He said he wasn’t worthy to die like his Lord.

Read 20 tweets

Culture Explorer

@CultureExploreX

Apr 17

You think you know ancient history?
Greece. Rome. Egypt.

But what about the civilizations we forgot?

They built wonders, ruled empires, and shaped the world… Only to vanish.

Let me show you 15 ancient cultures you’ve never heard of—but should have. 🧵👇

Let’s begin…

1. The Nabataeans (Jordan)

Yes, Petra. But they weren’t just stonemasons.
They hacked the desert—building hidden cisterns, channels, and reservoirs that still function.

Water was power. They mastered it.

2. The Kingdom of Elam (Iran)

Long before Persia, Elam built ziggurats like Chogha Zanbil—older than most pyramids.

They wrote clay tablets with laws, recipes, and love letters.

It was a city of stories.