What is a donkey arch?
A donkey arch is a type of arch where the sides first swell outward and then curve inward to a pointed top. This shape is sometimes also called a horseshoe pointed arch and comes from Islamic and Moorish architecture.
Form and origin
The typical donkey arch has a silhouette reminiscent of a donkey’s back or a horseshoe with an added point. From the springings, the arch curves outward (bulging), then through a transition point inward toward the apex.
The form spread from the 7th century onward from the Middle East to:
- North Africa — particularly Morocco and Tunisia
- Iberian peninsula — under the Moors in Andalusia
- Sicily — Arab-Norman architecture
- India and Persia — Mughal architecture
Application
The donkey arch is found mainly in:
| Building type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Mosques | Alhambra, Mezquita of Córdoba |
| Palaces | Generalife in Granada |
| City gates | Bab Bou Jeloud (Fez) |
| Madrasas | Quranic schools in Morocco |
In Europe
Through cross-cultural exchanges the donkey arch reached:
- Mudéjar style (Spain) — Arabic forms by Christians
- Neo-Moorish style (19th century) — synagogues, pavilions, theatres
- Romantic eclecticism — exotic styles in Western palaces
Distinction from other arches
- Horseshoe arch — more than a semicircle, no point
- Pointed arch — Gothic standard, no bulge
- Trefoil arch — three or more semicircles
- Ogee arch (donkey-back arch) — not the same — has an S-curve
Structural behaviour
The arch form distributes the loads of the masonry above evenly to the springings. The pointed shape adds geometric stiffness. Practically, a donkey arch can be executed in stone, brick, tile or stucco. In Moorish palaces, decorative stucco (yeseria) or tile mosaic (azulejo) versions were common.
Examples
- Mezquita of Córdoba — famous for double-layered horseshoe arches with donkey-arch details
- Alhambra (Granada) — donkey arches in galleries and halls
- Sint Theresia Church (Avila) — Mudéjar elements
- Dohány Street Synagogue (Budapest) — neo-Moorish with donkey arches
Related terms
- Arch
- Pointed arch
- Horseshoe arch
- Moorish revival
- Trefoil arch
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