amulet;
pilgrim souvenir;
qur'an-case
- Museum number
- 2012,6007.3.a-b
- Description
-
Qur'an-case with a miniature Qur'an inside, used as an amulet for the house or car. The case is made of wood covered with burgundy velvet and is decorated with strips of gold-coloured ribbon, a sticker with the Surat al-Fatiha printed on it, and filigree medallions set with rhinestones. A burgundy tassel is attached to the base and the case can be suspended by means of a gold coloured chain and closed with a clasp. The Qur'an inside is printed on paper with a brown, purple and gold card cover.
- Production date
- 2000-2009
- Dimensions
-
Length: 34 centimetres (incl. chain and tassel)
-
Length: 7.20 centimetres (qur'an-case)
-
Length: 4.70 centimetres (qur'an)
-
Weight: 39 grammes (qur'an case)
-
Weight: 9 grammes (qur'an)
-
Thickness: 0.90 centimetres (qur'an)
-
Width: 6.60 centimetres (qur'an-case)
-
Width: 3.50 centimetres (qur'an)
-
Depth: 2.80 centimetres (qur'an-case)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- The Great Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Umayyad Mosque, was built in the eighth century during the reign of the Umayyad caliph, al-Walid I, on the site of a Christian basilica dedicated to John the Baptist (Yahya). The mosque holds a shrine which today may still house the head of John the Baptist, honoured as a saint by Christians and as a prophet by Muslims. The mosque is also revered by Shia Muslims due to its association with the head of Imam Husayn, which was buried there for over two centuries following the Battle of Karbala, and a shrine dedicated to Imam Husayn remains in its place. The mosque remains a major site of both Christian and Muslim pilgrimage and many religious and political souvenirs are sold around the mosque precinct for this reason.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 2012
- Acquisition notes
- Part of a collection of 10 items bought near the Great Mosque of Damascus, Syria in November 2009.
- Department
- Middle East
- Registration number
- 2012,6007.3.a-b