Mosques : splendors of Islam Mosques are among the greatest architectural feats and have a profound beauty: their spiritual purpose adds to their mystery and lustre. This visually stunning volume illustrates the development of the basic mosque structural and decorative elements through sixty examples. Essays by prominent architecture and design authorities cover topics such as the iconographic and decorative elements of the mosque including the calligraphy and tilework that adorn these important sanctuaries as well as regional architecture styles.