183. The Kaaba. Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Islamic. pre-Islamic monument; redirected by Muhammad in 631-632 CE; Multiple renovations. Granite masonry, covered with silk curtain and calligraphy in gold and silver-wrapped thread.

Form

-The Kaaba is made of granite the floor is made of marble and limestone -The Kaaba is covered by textiles; the cloth is called the Kiswa and is changed annually

Content

--Kaaba means cube in Arabic -Kaaba said to hav been built by Ibrahim and Ishamael for God -Has been repaired and reconstructed many times since Muhammad's time

Function

-Mecca is the spiritual center of Islam; this is the most sacred site in Islam -A large mosque surrounds the Kaaba -Destination for those making the hajj, or spiritual pilgrimage to mecca. -Pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba counterclockwise seven times

Context

Context

Additional Information

--Existing structure encases the black stone in the eastern corner, the only part of the original structure by Ibrahim that survives.