Hypostyle

Connected Sites: 14

Definition
WHS containing "Hypostyle" structures. "The term is used most strictly for buildings in which the roof is supported solely by Columns/Pillars without use of arches, vaults, buttresses or domes. It is, however, also used more widely where the main structure is still primarily supported by a "forest" of pillars holding up the roof, albeit with some "secondary" arching (e,g to allow a higher ceiling by preventing bending of the columns in the middle). Thus "In many mosques, especially the early congregational mosques the prayer hall has the hypostyle form" (Wiki). These, less strict uses of the term, are allowed where the structure is widely described as a "Hypostyle" but a reputable quote using the word should be provided. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypostyle

Map

Connected Sites

  • Kairouan
    Kairouan
    Tunisia
    Inscribed: 1988
    3.03
    146
    4
    The Great Mosque "is one of the oldest places of worship in the Islamic world, as well as a model for all later mosques in the Maghreb. (It) is one of the most impressive and largest Islamic monuments in North Africa, its perimeter is almost equal to 405 metres (1,328 feet). This vast space contains a hypostyle prayer hall" See
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Delos
    Delos
    Greece
    Inscribed: 1990
    3.44
    107
    4
    Hypostyle Hall (Stoa of Poseidon)
    See www.perseus.tufts.edu
  • Persepolis
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.37
    103
    3
    "As a word, "apadāna" (Old Persian) is used to designate a hypostyle hall," (Wiki) The Apadana Palace at Perspolis is such a structure -
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Cordoba
    Cordoba
    Spain
    Inscribed: 1984
    4.18
    377
    9
    The Mosque-Cathedral "is most notable for its arcaded hypostyle hall, with 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. These were made from pieces of the Roman temple which had occupied the site previously, as well as other destroyed Roman buildings, such as the Mérida amphitheatre. The double arches were a new introduction to architecture, permitting higher ceilings than would otherwise be possible with relatively low columns." See
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Works of Antoni Gaudí
    Inscribed: 1984
    4.11
    553
    18
    Parc Guell "The great entrance stairway leads to the Hypostyle Room, which was designed to be the market for the estate. It is made up of 84 striated columns inspired in the Doric order" . The Columns support the "Nature Square" directly above.
  • Syracuse
    Inscribed: 2005
    3.59
    248
    8
    Castello Maniace: "Of the original hypostyle hall, into which streamed light from 15 wall windows, one large window to the sea on the west side and from the central compluvium open to the sky, only the south side remains." (Nomination file, p. 85)
  • Susa
    Susa
    Iran
    Inscribed: 2015
    2.40
    30
    4
    Apadana at the Palace of Darius
  • Nubian Monuments
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.21
    205
    12
    Temple of Isis at Philae - "The striking Hypostyle Hall conisists of ten huge pillars. Once beautifully painted, the pillars symbolize the first plants, trees and flowers of the earth which began to grow on the Primeval Mound (symbolized by the temple floor). On the ceiling (representing the sky), are images of the Day Boat and the Night Boat, and of the vultures of Upper and Lower Egypt." See
    See www.sacred-destinations.com
  • Kasbah of Algiers
    Inscribed: 1992
    2.52
    56
    4
    The prayer room of the Great Mosque of Algiers (Djamaa el Kebir), without a central dome, is a hypostyle; the pillars are connected by large arches. (French Wiki)
  • Historic Cairo
    Inscribed: 1979
    3.66
    299
    11
    Cairo has several "Hypostyle" mosques. E.g Al-azhar Mosque - "the original structure was 280 feet (85 m) in length and 227 feet (69 m) wide, and comprised three arcades situated around a courtyard. To the southeast of the courtyard, the original prayer hall was built as a hypostyle hall, five aisles deep.... The marble columns supporting the four arcades that made up the prayer hall were reused from sites extant at different times in Egyptian history, from Pharaonic times through Roman rule to Coptic dominance" (Wiki). Al-Nasir Mohammad Mosque (Citadel) and the Ibn Tulun mosque - Ibn Tulun " had solid bricks baked and used, following the tradition in Mesopotamia.....(and) applied this policy even to the pillars of the hypostyle hall, making all of them very thick and solid by piling bricks, having quit taking marble columns from ancient Roman temples or Christian churches." See
    See www.ne.jp
  • Ancient Thebes
    Inscribed: 1979
    4.38
    257
    11
    Most Egyptian temples contained a Hypostyle Hall. The most famous is "The Great Hypostyle Hall" at Karnak
    See en.wikipedia.org
  • Talayotic Menorca
    Inscribed: 2023
    2.93
    49
    4
    "The characteristic structures include (...) hypostyles (roofs supported by pillars)." (OUV) – "Another structure that can be documented inside the villages are the hypostyle halls, also known as covered enclosures. These buildings are comprised of a central line of stone columns (...). They are built up against the outside walls of the circular houses, but unlike these, they are roofed with stone slabs. Excavated examples of these suggest that their use is associated with storage and/or stabling livestock." (Nomination file, p. 109) – "hypostyle halls at settlements like Talatí de Dalt or Torre d'en Galmés" (Nomination file, p. 192)
  • Djenné
    Inscribed: 1988
    3.66
    33
    2
    Great Mosque - "Djenné's mosque is just an extreme sample of Arabic type hypostyle mosque in contrast, making as many as ninety thick pillars of earth stand densely, causing impossibility to get even a penetrating view of the interior space. Standing up many columns together is a fate for the erection of a grand hall with a flat roof without using a dome structure. Since Djenné's mosque is made of earth, the pillars had to be much bulkier than stone columns." See -
    See www.kamit.jp
  • Museumsinsel (Museum Island)
    Inscribed: 1999
    3.43
    470
    10
    Egyptian Court at the Neues Museum