Talks and shows

The hidden science in Europe's great cathedrals

Diana Darke explores the evidence embedded in medieval monasteries, palaces, castles and cathedrals across Europe.

Cordoba Mezquita (Ruggero Poggianella - Flickr: Cordoba, la Mezquita CC BY-SA 2.0)

Join author and authority on the Middle East Diana Darke as she takes us on a forensic journey through the history of medieval architecture. From the Mont-Saint-Michel to Santiago de Compostela, from Pisa and its Leaning Tower to Palermo, and from Durham to Ely, Diana will unearth new clues in the vaulting and decorative detail of the crucial pre-Gothic period known as 'Romanesque', the essential springboard for all future European architectural styles. 

As the origins are explored and the connections and dates fall into place, the identities of the mystery master builders also become clear. Diana concludes that Romanesque, a fiction first invented by nineteenth-century art historians, should in fact be more rightly restyled ‘Islamesque’. 

Using forensically detailed first-hand research, Diana takes us on an enlightening architectural voyage of discovery that begins in the ancient Middle East, and then moves from Coptic and Fatimid Egypt across North Africa, into Sicily and Moorish Spain, before entering Latin Christendom. 

Copies of Diana's latest book 'Islamesque: The Forgotten Craftsmen Who Built Europe's Medieval Monuments' will be available to purchase after the talk.

 

 

 

Event type

This is a theatre only event where the speakers and audience are together in our Theatre.

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For any queries regarding this event please get in touch by phone 020 7409 2992 or email events@ri.ac.uk.

About Diana Darke

Photo of Diana Darke
Diana Darke

Diana Darke studied Arabic at Oxford University, before beginning her professional career with the UK's GCHQ as an Arabic linguist. She went on to spend over twenty years working in the intelligence and counter-terrorism world, with both the British government and British industry. Her book, My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Crisis (3rd edition 2016), has final chapters describing her recent struggle to reclaim the house from war profiteers. Today she is an independent Middle East cultural expert and Syria specialist, frequently invited to speak at international events and media such as the BBC, PBS, TRT, Al-Jazeera, and France24. Her work on Syria has been published by the BBC website (most recently on Idlib), the BBC’s From Our Correspondent, The Sunday Times, The Times, The Guardian, and the FT.

Timing

Doors to the theatre will open at 6.45pm and the talk will begin at 7.00pm.

Accessibility

The event will take place on the first floor and there is step-free access from the street via lift.

The closest underground station is Green Park, which is step-free.

There is space at floor level in the theatre for wheelchair users.

Seating is usually unreserved for our events. If you and your group require seating reservations, please do let us know by emailing us at events@ri.ac.uk, and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Carers can receive a free ticket to an event by emailing events@ri.ac.uk.

Our theatre is equipped with an Audio Induction Loop. 

Event terms and conditions