Note 47 — Chapter III · THE ARAB CONQUEST OF AFRICA

The architectural style known as Saracenic made its beginnings in Inner Syria and Mesopotamia a century or nearly so before the Muhammadan invasion; and the “Horseshoe Arch” or the arch prolonged for more than half a circle was invented by Hellenized Syrians in the sixth century of this era. The “Mahrab” of the Mosque and some of the doming were added by the Arabs and actually descend from the symbols of phallic worship.