Islamic Tiles of the Alhambra
AOK: Mathematics, History, Art
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Real Life Situation
The Islamic tile patterns that are found in the Alhambra are governed by rules of geometric repetition, symmetry, and continuity. According to this strict adherence to conformity, a relatively simple motif may be used to produce an increasing pattern, which may continue on to infinity. As a philosophical metaphor, one could say that each individual makes an important contribution to the universe but, in the universal scheme of life, no one individual is any more important than any other. Understanding the mathematics behind the symmetry and construction of these Islamic patterns is the key to understanding their beauty. It is this interdisciplinary bridge between mathematics and art that allows us to view mathematics as a part of a bigger picture, which includes aesthetics, culture, and history. First Order Questions: What are the mathematical patterns that make up the tile patterns? Are all the tiles in the Alhambra based on symmetrical patters? Are the mathematical patterns solely for aesthetic purposes, or are there other uses and functions? Second Order Questions: Why is there beauty in symmetry? Does understanding the maths behind these works increase its aesthetic appeal? |
WOK: Sense Perception, Reason, Imagination |
