Floral Ornaments of Mosques: Iznik Tulips, the Pink Mosque and the Taj Mahal

Many mosques impress not only with their size but with the delicacy of their decoration: walls and domes are covered with flowers, tendrils and leaves. Plant ornament became one of the main languages of Islamic art: people are not depicted in religious buildings, so craftsmen spent centuries perfecting floral patterns. Here are some of the finest examples.

Flowers with an Eastern touch: tulips and red roses.

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Five mosques with floral decoration

• Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque, Istanbul. Built in the early 17th century, its interior is lined with thousands of Iznik tiles showing tulips, carnations, lilies and cypresses, hence the “blue” name.
• Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Istanbul. A small 16th-century mosque considered one of the best showcases of Iznik ceramics, with flowers on almost every surface.
• Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz. Known as the Pink Mosque for its rose-patterned tiles and stained glass; in the morning, sunlight casts coloured patterns across the carpets.

• Taj Mahal, Agra. A white marble mausoleum with a mosque beside it. Its walls are decorated with flowers inlaid in semi-precious stones using the pietra dura technique.
• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi. A modern mosque with marble floors and columns inlaid with floral patterns.

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The most common flowers

• Tulip. The favourite flower of Ottoman craftsmen and a symbol of the age, used on tiles, textiles and carpets.
• Carnation. Its recognisable serrated petals appear in Iznik ceramics beside tulips.
• Rose. Especially popular in Persian art, on tiles and in miniatures.
• Arabesque. Endless interlacing tendrils and leaves that symbolise continuity and infinity.

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If you love plant patterns, see Turkey in flower and flowers in stained glass.

FAQ

Why are mosques so full of plant patterns?

Islamic religious art avoids depicting people and animals, so geometry, calligraphy and plants became the main motifs.

What is Iznik ceramics?

Painted tiles and tableware from the town of Iznik in Turkey. They flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries, when they decorated the mosques and palaces of Istanbul.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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