978-1-4222-3442-6

98

I RAQ

Geometric motifs and calligraphy adorn this Islamic shrine in the Iraqi town of Al-Kufa. Such forms of decoration are common because Islam traditionally avoids the depiction of humans.

like a guitar. Iraqi musicians also play darabukkas (drums), duffs (tambourines), stringed instruments called rabaabs , the qarna (a horn), and the zummara (a double flute). Traditional Iraqi music differs from American music in that it has only a melody, whereas Western music incorporates both