The Influence of Medieval Byzantine Culture on “Umayyad Mosaics”

Abstract

Among the wonders of the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, the Umayyad mosaics have attracted historians for their gorgeous appearance and rich cultural connotations. By referring to the Umayyad mosaics on the octagonal arcades of the dome, this paper explores the cultural interaction between the medieval Christian (Byzantine) civilization and the Islamic civilization in the framework of the “cultural representation” theory and the “signifying practices” theory proposed by Stuart Hall in 1997. As the dome’s initial ornaments, the Umayyad mosaic patterns and inscriptions correspond to the political means of Caliph Abd Al-Malik, the funder of the dome’s construction, whose intentions reflect the medieval historical background. In addition, the production regulations and artistic practices of the Umayyad mosaic inscriptions have portrayed the medieval contextual influences on art and art activities. This paper analyzes the symbolic meanings behind the mosaic patterns based on the “Cultural Representation” theory, which is defined as the process by which meaning is produced and exchanged between members of a culture through the use of signs and images. Moreover, through the framework of Hall’s “Signifying Practices” theory, this paper explores how craftsmen construct the mosaic walls following particular rules and regulations, which also reflect the overall environment of cultural interaction.