Dictionary of islamic architecture

See also:
Morocco
Mardin
City in south-east Anatolia (Turkey) associated with the
Artukid dynasty during the medieval period.
Mardin is located in a strategic position on a rocky
spur overlooking the crossroads between east—west
and north-south routes. The city is dominated by the
fortress which has stood on this site since Roman
times. During the Islamic period the castle has been
extensively repaired several times, first by the
Hamdanids in the ninth century, later by the Artukids
and more recently by the Ottomans. From 1104 to
1408 the city became the principal stronghold of the
Artukids who resisted successive attacks by the
Ayyubids, the Mongols and the Timurids.
The buildings of the town are terraced into the
hillside and all have magnificent views over the
Mesopotamian plain. The main building stone is
brilliant white limestone which provides a dazzling
contrast to the grey-black basalt which character-izes
the surrounding region.
Several important buildings survive from the
Artukid period including the Great Mosque, a
hammam and several madrassas. The prayer hall of
the Great Mosque is a multi-domed unit in the usual
Artukid style whilst the minaret is a tall cylindrical
tower with elaborately carved car-touches. One of
the most striking buildings in the city is the Kasim
Pasha Madrassa built in 1445 by the Aq-qoyunulu
ruler Kasim b. Jahangir. There are also several
important churches and monasteries in the region.
See also:
Turkey
maristan
Hospital.
marqad
Tombstone.
mashhad
Shrine, or commemorative mosque.
mashrabiyya
Wooden grille or grate used to cover windows or balconies.
mashrabiyya

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The word is derived from the niches used to store
vessels of drinking water. The grilles are traditionally
made from short lengths of turned wood joined
together through polygonal blocks so that they form
large areas of lattice-like patterns. The patterns
formed by the lattice work vary from place to place
although commonly the main lines of the grille are
at a 45 degree angle. Mashrabiyya can also be made
of metalwork although this is more rare and was
usually reserved for the houses of the very rich or
public buildings.