Publication Date
66- 86 / 685- 705
Publication Place
-
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Subject
Engraved marble.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 40 سم؛ العرض: 30 سم؛ العمق: 9 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
2511
Record ID
object;ISL;tr;Mus01;1;ar
Library Location
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Date
66- 86 / 685- 705
Notes
A landmark or distance guide, often erected to mark the distance between two stops along a pilgrimage or trade route. This piece dates back to the reign of the fifth Umayyad caliph, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (r. 66-86 / 685-705). The piece bears an inscription consisting of eight lines written in Kufic script, and the entire text cannot be read because the upper part of the stone has been shattered and lost. As for the clear part of the inscription, it reads: “This stone was erected by Abdullah, the Commander of the Faithful, Abdul Malik, may God have mercy on him. The distance from here to Damascus is 109 miles.” Today, only a very small number of Umayyad inscriptions remain. Also, this distance guide is important because it shows the development of the style of Kufic stone inscription during the Umayyad era.
Sample Text
Gönül Tekeli “Distance Guide” within Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tr;Mus01;1;ar
