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    One of the greatest challenges of the architecture during the old days was figuring out how to place a circular dome over a square building. Early attempts with slanted square slabs to make a octagonal shape was irregular and failed. In the fifth century the Byzantine and Sassanians started to use the squinch, an arched vault or half dome, which were placed across the corner angles. The Muslims started to use this method with great success. Instead of plane squinches, they started to use decorations.

    As for the domes, they were constructed of wood or brick, plastered on the inside the outsides were covered with plaster, lead or tiles. The structure rested on an octagonal base within a rectangle, or on a drum. To let light in, the middle of the dome was sometimes left open, or windows were placed in various areas.

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