AUC Professor Authors the 100 Most Iconic Islamic Houses of Worship

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Bernard O'Kane, professor of Islamic art and architecture at The American University in Cairo (AUC), has released his latest book Mosques: The 100 Most Iconic Islamic Houses of Worship. O’Kane went on a journey through different centuries and continents to explore 100 of the most iconic and beautifully made architectural designs that are also meant to be home to worshippers in Islam.

"The book is unusual in the field of Islamic art and architecture for the breadth of its coverage. Mosques from four continents are illustrated, from North America to Europe, Africa and Asia," said O'Kane.

In the book, O'Kane looks at some of the most iconic mosques from Indonesia to Spain and identifies how they've become more than just places for prayer, but have also meant to represent great historical architectural and design achievements.

Speaking of golden iconic designs, O'Kane was also keen to highlight many of the mosques that date back to the golden age.

"Although those from the Arab, Turkish and Iranian heartlands receive the greatest attention, this breadth enables the reader to gain a fuller understanding of the worldwide distribution of mosques.  In addition, more emphasis is placed than is usual on the 19th and 20th centuries, with 21 out of 100 from those centuries," added O'Kane.

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The American University in Cairo (AUC) was founded in 1919 and is major contributor to the social, political and cultural life of the Arab Region. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions, and study abroad programs. An independent, nonprofit, apolitical, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.