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This helmet is decorated in gold with leaf designs and phrases
from the Qur’an. It was probably made in one of the royal
workshops of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, who ruled the
Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566. Although it could have been
worn in battle, it must have been made mostly as part of a parade
armor, worn in ceremonies as a symbol of rank.
Islamic artists relied on the words of the Prophet Muhammad to
inspire their designs, so calligraphy—the art of handwriting—became
the most used form of decoration for both religious and non-religious
objects. A wide variety of passages from the Qur’an and
other holy words appear in the decoration of Islamic arms and
armor. The holy words expressed the wearer's devotion to God,
helped protect him in battle, and were pleasing to look at.
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