Star Polygon Designs of La Alhambra's Wooden Ceilings
B. Lynn Bodner

Bridges: Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science
Pages 125–132

Abstract

This paper will describe how some of the beautiful Islamic star polygon designs found in the wooden ceilings of La Alhambra may be reconstructed using only the geometer's tools of straightedge and compass (or the electronic counterpart, the Geometer's Sketchpad software). The idealized, computer-generated patterns will be compared with photographs of the original ceilings. The crystallographic symmetry group classification for each ceiling design will also be discussed.

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