Publication Date
988 AH / 1580 AD
Publication Place
-
Antiques dealer from Rabat
Subject
Tomb carved from white marble.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 21.5 سم؛ الطول: 86.3 سم؛ العرض: 20 سم؛ عرض الأرضية المزخرفة بالكتابات: 6 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
D 4420
Record ID
object;ISL;ma;Mus01_B;29;ar
Library Location
Udaya Museum; Rabat
Date
988 AH / 1580 AD
Notes
A prismatic funerary stele with a cylindrical ring on top. Its concavely protruding side edges define an inscription ground, consisting of a single line of writing on each side. The regular Naskh letters were decorated with a floral decoration composed of curved branches bearing simple, smooth palm branches, and others symmetrical with a calyx, or symmetrical in the form of rosettes whose calyx expands in the form of two curved lobes. The inscription is spread out on the tombstone as follows: Copied on one side, after seeking refuge (a phrase dedicated to supplication to God), verses 26 and 27 of Surah No. 35. “Al-Fatir,” followed by the first words of the next text: “This is the grave.” The other side bears the name of the deceased, her lineage, and the name and position of her husband, as well as the date of death of “the free woman, Fatima, daughter of the leader Ahmed Al-Rik, Al-Alaj, wife of the leader Abdullah Tamdart. She died in the middle of Rabi’ Al-Thani in the year 988 AH / the end of May 1480 AD.” We know that the father of the deceased, “Al-Rik,” which may be a corruption of a Spanish name, “Enrique,” was of non-Muslim origin. (Al-Alaj) and, like the husband, held the position of leader. On the other hand, a second similar funerary stele tells us that he had another daughter married to the Saadi Sultan's family doctor, Al-Mansur Al-Dhahabi. Therefore, it turns out that the deceased was descended from the Okat family, a number of whose members held some high positions and were close to the authorities. Therefore, a funerary stele was constructed for the deceased of this style - known in Andalusian Morocco since the Almoravid era, which since the Marinid era became the exclusive preserve of princes and noble families. These funerary steles or tombs, always made of beautiful white marble, were given special care by the marble workers for their perfect artistry.
Sample Text
Naima El Khatib-Boujibar “Prismatic funerary stele (cemetery)” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;ma;Mus01_B;29;ar
