The pre-Columbian American Indian cultures formed in Mesoamerica, part of Central America, and the Andean region in Mesoamerica before the Spanish Conquest and exploration of the 16th century, commonly referred to as pre-Columbian cultures. The Pre-Columbian cultures were exceptional advancements in human culture and society, comparable to Egypt, China and Mesopotamia’s early cultures. The concept that supernatural energies were literally in specific areas, thus affecting the placing of religious buildings, was one aspect of the culture that greatly influenced architecture. The structures are, in most cases, shaped and designed similarly to the way as the Muslim structures (Farrag, 615). One of these well-known pre–Columbian American structures that I will tackle in this paper is “The famous five Storley pyramid at Edna in Campeche, in Mexico ” I compare it with the structures used in Muslim mosques such as Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The five Storley pyramid
Al-Aqsa Mosque
The five Storley pyramid’s construction procedures are the most advanced pre-colonial American building construction technologies. A few ancient Iconic vaults have also defined a set, mainly in Edna’s five Storley Pyramids. This resembles how Muslims build their mosques which are their places of worship. The most well-known Late Classic vaults, which were employed in five shop complexes, were monolithic and relied on the adhesive characteristics of mortar for support. Northern Yucatan boot-shaped vaulted stones were used in the building of this structure.
Similarly, most mosques contain boot-shaped vault stones in their construction, which give them a unique shape. Furthermore, the five Storley pyramid buildings’ huge structural parts were all individually stable. The majority of Inca and pre-Inca constructions lacked characteristic hearting masonry like Maya structures (Sutter, 101). The plan used in constructing this building and other such related buildings indicated that True corbels needed to be used extensively in Andean work to support floor and roof timbers. In structuring the mosques, Muslims use the true corbels more often to ensure a more stable floor and rooftops.
In designing mosque structures, the plan indicates that they must be a dome part. Domes are hemispherical structures that are frequently used as ceilings and roofs. A circle, a drum, or a network of interlinked transepts can all support dome buildings. Also, an Oculus at the dome’s peak might allow natural light within. The structure of the five Storley pyramids also resembles this shape. In fact, this structure was among the first to adopt this dome design. After being inspired by the pre-existing five-storey pyramid style, Islamic architecture embraced the dome as one of its key elements. On the other hand, the structure of mosques tends to assume various forms of domes, such as Beehive Domes, Ellipsoidal Domes, Coved Domes, Onion Domes, Braced Domes, Compound Domes, Geodesic domes, Crossed-Arch Domes, among others.
Both the five Storley pyramids and the Islamic mosques possess arches. An Arche is a crucial element seen mostly in Islamic architecture, and it is used to designate the entrances to structures and chambers. The five Storley pyramids assumed Ogee Arches, but there are different arches in Islamic mosques, including the Multifoil Arches, Pointed Arches, Horseshoe Arches and Ogee Arches (Salleh et al., 52). The Al-Aqsa Mosque’s pointed arches are outstanding examples of how arches have just become fundamental components of Islamic architecture. As opposed to Islamic architecture, the building plan of the five Storley pyramids didn’t possess a Mihrab element, and its design was not the same as what is currently used in Muslim mosques. Mihrab, an architectural element, marks the direction of Qibla in most Muslim mosques. It occurs as a circular nook in a mosque’s exterior. The wall is referred to as the ‘Qibla Wal’. In Muslim societies, it allows us to know the position of prayer.
Most of the mosque’s structural building plan and the building themselves possess minarets. This marks the primary differentiation of the five Storley pyramids and their structure from Islamic or Far Eastern culture. Minarets are towers that are part of the architecture of mosques, and they often have one or more balconies. The towers serve as visual cues to help people find their way to the mosque and critical elements during the Islamic call to prayer. Minarets come in a range of sizes, from heavy, squat-spiraling ramps to towering, fragile, pencil-thin spires. These minarets’ bases are generally square in shape. The majority of the buildings are Islamic or Far Eastern in origin. In mosques, the count of minarets varied from one to six. The ‘Landmarks of Islam’ are these towers. Famous Minarets from India include the Qutub Minar and the Spiral Minaret of Samarra in Iraq.
Also, Arabesque art found in most Islamic structures didn’t feature as in the building design of the five Storley pyramids. Decorations include geometrical patterns, calligraphy, and floral motifs in most Islamic cultures. However, the five Storley pyramids did not possess this decoration in their structure. Also, it did not feature the eight-pointed star patterns commonly found in Islamic art and architecture. According to Islamic tales, it can capture djinns, genies, and their immaterial equivalents. All Islamic decor is geometrical, with circular paths sprouting foliage and flowers. The repetition and thorough placement of the patterns create the illusion of a flowing wave, and no parts of the seamless Islamic design stand out.
Work Cited
Sutter, Richard C. “The pre-Columbian peopling and population dispersals of South America.” Journal of Archaeological Research 29.1 (2021): 93-151.
Farrag, Engy. “Architecture of mosques and Islamic centers in Non-Muslim context.” Alexandria Engineering Journal 56.4 (2017): 613-620.
Salleh, Suhaimi, Noraini Abdullah, and G. Khadizah. “Modelling approach in Islamic architectural designs.” The principles of the committee on publication Ethics (COPE) 4.1 (2014): 49-57.
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