Minarets in the Middle East

Essay # 4581

Architecture
Architecture > Buildings
Architecture > History

The origin and importance of minarets in the Islamic world.

1,225 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2001 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper tracks the origin of minarets in the Islamic world. It shows the meaning of the word "minaret" the placement and importance of minarets in culture, as well as architectural characteristics.

From the Paper:

"There are many clues as to the origin of the word "minaret". It has been suggested that it comes from the Arabic root "nar", which means "place of fire and light". This is a correct assumption because, often times, the muezzin would carry a torch or lantern to light his way. This is supported by the definition for the Arabic word for "lighthouse" - manara (Bloom 9-11). In Aramaic, manara is translated as "candlestick" which would also be a sensible answer because minarets are often constructed as slim and elegant as possible to resemble candlesticks (Kjeilen "Minaret")"