A horseshoe arch is an arch whose curve covers more than a semicircle, so the arch curves back inwards below its widest point and the opening at the bottom is narrower than in the middle. The shape therefore resembles a horseshoe.
Characteristics
- Springing above the widest point — the arch only begins to close after the semicircle
- Narrowing at the bottom — the clear opening is narrower than the middle of the arch
- Often on columns — with an impost or capital on the columns
The horseshoe arch can be round (semicircular at the top) or pointed (with a peak), depending on the building tradition.
Origin and meaning
The horseshoe arch is best known from the Moorish and Islamic architecture of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. A famous example is the Mezquita, the great mosque of Córdoba, with its rows of double horseshoe arches. The form also appeared earlier in Visigothic architecture.
Application
- Arcades — rows of arches on columns in mosques and palaces
- Gates and portals — as an ornate entrance
- Windows and niches — as a decorative frame
- Moorish revival styles — drawing on the historical form
The horseshoe arch is mainly a decorative and culturally defining element, though like any arch it also carries load to the supports.
Related terms
- Arch
- Round arch
- Pointed arch
- Arcade
- Moorish revival
- Impost
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