When someone talks about “Islamic Art,” they are referring to regions such as Egypt, India, Morocco, Spain, Iran, Qatar, and more. Islamic Art has existed since about the seventh century to today. Calligraphy is very important in Islamic Art as it represents God’s divine word. Its purpose is to link the arts of the Islamic world together. The major themes in Islamic art is calligraphy and the major motifs are geometric and vegetative. A simple definition for geometric art is characterized by the use of precise shapes, lines, and angles that often create abstract or structured compositions. Vegetative art is heavily inspired by or depicting elements of plant life, such as flowers, leaves, and trees. The most common misconception about Islamic art is that it is aniconic. Aniconic means that the art does not contain representations of humans or animals. This is incorrect because some Islamic art does contain representations of humans or animals.

A very well known piece of Islamic Art is The Great Mosque of Córdoba -locally known as the Mezquita-Catedral- it is one of the oldest standing mosques, and even structures, from the time that the Muslims ruled what was known as Al-Andalus (Most of Spain, Portugal, and a small part of Southern France). This was around the 8th century. Córdoba is located south of Madrid. The Great Mosque of Córdoba was originally a temple to the Roman god Janus. In the year 572, it was changed into a church. Then finally, it became a mosque. The building is comprised of many different sections as it was expanded over the course of about two hundred years. It contains a large prayer hall, a courtyard, an orange grove, and more. The main part about The Great Mosque of Córdoba is the mihrab. There are all mihrabs in every mosque as they face Mecca. This is important because Muslims face Mecca for their prayers. The mihrab in The Great Mosque of Córdoba is well known because of its horseshoe arch. The horseshoe arch is very popular throughout Western Islamic architecture (and a little in the east). 

Islamic Art spans across diverse regions as well as centuries, encompassing rich traditions of calligraphy, geometric patterns, and vegetative motifs. One of the most renowned examples, The Great Mosque of Córdoba, a testament to the architectural brilliance of Al-Andalus’ evolution from a Roman temple to a mosque, showcases the cultural fusion that characterizes Islamic art and architecture. The iconic horseshoe arch of its mihrab exemplifies the distinctiveness and enduring influence of Islamic design, transcending geographical boundaries and leaving an indelible mark on world heritage.