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Helen Betts | profile | all galleries >> Oman, Hidden Gem of the Gulf >> The Splendors of Oman's Grand Mosque tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Splendors of Oman's Grand Mosque

We finally got to the Grand Mosque during visitor hours, and it was breathtaking. I don’t have a huge number of pictures of the interior; I think I was too dazzled to take many. I have many more from the outside (where we spent considerably more time) including pictures of a large number of ceramic panels on the perimeter of the complex that I just loved.

The Grand Mosque was a gift to the nation by Sultan Qaboos to celebrate the 30th year of his reign and was inaugurated in 2001. The mosque contains the second largest hand-loomed carpet in the world, measuring 70 meters by 60 meters. It was produced in Iran and took 600 women four years to weave and contains 1,700,000,000 knots and weighs 21 tons.
A huge complex
A huge complex		 Mihrab
Mihrab		 Mihrab
Mihrab		 Mihrab, detail
Mihrab, detail
Corner detail
Corner detail		 Dome, lower detail
Dome, lower detail		 The dome
The dome		 The chandelier
The chandelier
Arcade
Arcade		 Decorative panel
Decorative panel		 Pillar
Pillar		 The carpet
The carpet
Wall detail
Wall detail		 Blue window
Blue window		 Decorative ceiling
Decorative ceiling		 Work of art
Work of art
Light at the end
Light at the end		 Women's prayer room
Women's prayer room		 Side view
Side view		 Inner courtyard
Inner courtyard
Main gate
Main gate		 Inside looking out
Inside looking out		 Arches within arches
Arches within arches		 Back gate
Back gate
Passageway
Passageway		 Ablutions
Ablutions		 Shadows
Shadows		 The grounds
The grounds
Beautiful at night as well
Beautiful at night as well		 'Contemplation of the Islamic Theme'
'Contemplation of the Islamic Theme'		 Byzantium: 'Antique Mosaic and Pure Decoration'
Byzantium: 'Antique Mosaic and Pure Decoration'		 Egypt/Mesopotamia: 'Ancient Legend and Glory'
Egypt/Mesopotamia: 'Ancient Legend and Glory'
'Tribal Motifs of the Hijaz'
'Tribal Motifs of the Hijaz'		 Islamic Indian Art: 'The Mughal Era'
Islamic Indian Art: 'The Mughal Era'		 Mamluk: 'Imagery of Light'
Mamluk: 'Imagery of Light'		 Oman, Arab Peninsula: 'Sand, Myrrh & Silver'
Oman, Arab Peninsula: 'Sand, Myrrh & Silver'
Persian Kashi Design: Lavish Safavid Splendour
Persian Kashi Design: Lavish Safavid Splendour		 The Maghrib: 'Jewels of Paradise'
The Maghrib: 'Jewels of Paradise'		 Contemp. Ceramics & Pattern: 'Blue & Gold Everywhere'
Contemp. Ceramics & Pattern: 'Blue & Gold Everywhere' 		Ottoman: 'Lotus Flowers and Tulip'
Ottoman: 'Lotus Flowers and Tulip'
Samarqand & Central Asia: 'Contemporary Timurid Interpretations'
Samarqand & Central Asia: 'Contemporary Timurid Interpretations'		 'Tribal Motifs of the Hijaz'
'Tribal Motifs of the Hijaz'		 Islamic Indian Art: 'The Mughal Era'
Islamic Indian Art: 'The Mughal Era'		 'Contemplation of the Islamic Theme'
'Contemplation of the Islamic Theme'
goelsamuel16-Oct-2014 14:36
Wonderful collection! Thank you for this beautiful tour of this impressive mosque! V!
Peter M. 08-Oct-2014 21:52
This is beautiful! Truly a work of love; on par with our Vatican. Let's hope we all get along now!
Gervan08-Sep-2014 03:17
I love the images in the four bottom rows.
Gervan08-Sep-2014 03:16
You've made a top gallery again! V.
Buba Jafarli19-Aug-2014 17:59
A fascinating complex indeed! Thank you for sharing these beautigul photos, Helen! V.
patou18-Aug-2014 17:51
Une serie tres interessante et bien soignée
Sandy Rich18-Aug-2014 15:50
It is interesting that they use desert hues and then just pop them with wonderful colors and artistry.
joseantonio18-Aug-2014 04:13
A great gallery I have missed these last days.Great and lovely images.V
François Fauchard14-Aug-2014 12:05
A series of magnificent doors ! V
marie-jose wolff14-Aug-2014 11:22
fantastic gallery about the Grand Mosque! V
Gill Kopy14-Aug-2014 04:50
I have to add a second comment on the ceramic/mosaic panels - they are SO beautiful and you've done a wonderful job sharing them with us :) BV (oh no I don't get a 2nd vote)
Zoltán Balogh13-Aug-2014 19:32
An absolutely fantastic gallery Helen, wow! V
Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)12-Aug-2014 17:55
Outstanding work,Helen.BV
Paolo
Tom LeRoy12-Aug-2014 08:19
A splendid gallery, each image is remarkable. V
Stephanie11-Aug-2014 20:28
An amazingly beautiful gallery Helen! The Grand Mosque is a fabulous work of art! BV
Chris Spracklen11-Aug-2014 19:44
Yet another outstanding gallery, Helen. *V*§
Consistently high quality photos, all so beautifully presented.
William Barletta11-Aug-2014 18:17
A spectacular gallery. Wonderful work ~V~
Patrick Goossens11-Aug-2014 15:16
A real Gem!
danad11-Aug-2014 15:04
A great work again, Helen ! This mosque is beautiful and you show us all its beauties with your excellent images. V.
Jola Dziubinska11-Aug-2014 12:33
Amazing gallery, perfect work, Helen. Plus the work of the architects, construction men, decoration people, etc., etc. Just incredible complex! V.
janescottcumming11-Aug-2014 01:41
So many incredible photographs in this beautiful gallery. Outstanding work Helen! V
Will Hoskins10-Aug-2014 18:15
Just a fantastic gallery, Helen. Thanks for the tour of this amazing place. V
The Ellisons10-Aug-2014 18:04
Beautiful work Helen, now I'm jealous of you :-) Will definitely put this on our bucket list!
John Hamers10-Aug-2014 17:37
Great gallery of this mosque, showing obviuosly showing your strongs skills in archtitectural photography. Superb work Helen !!V
Long Bach Nguyen10-Aug-2014 14:14
wow another stunning gallery with fantastic images Helen
Gill Kopy10-Aug-2014 01:14
This mosque is totally breathtaking - I can imagine you forgetting to take photos but what you got are superb BV
Martin Lamoon09-Aug-2014 18:51
A most amazing gallery, excellent photography.
v
Jeff Real09-Aug-2014 02:06
This is wonderful work...I am very excited to see what is coming next in this series ~V~
John Barreiro09-Aug-2014 00:56
A remarkable place beautifully captured. V
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