NPR - Medieval Mosques Illuminated by Math

"Historic buildings in the Islamic world are often covered with breathtakingly intricate geometric designs. Both artists and mathematicians have long puzzled over them, wondering how the patterns were created.

Now, a Harvard physicist has some new ideas about the designs and the advanced math behind them."

Complex patterns like this one, found in the archway of a Turkish mosque,
were created by Islamic artisans in the 1400s.

A pattern from a Turkish mausoleum, circa 1200 C.E.
A reconstruction of the tile templates is overlaid at the bottom.

Medieval Mosques Illuminated by Math

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