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Inscribed Marble Panel

9th century

Not on view

The Kufic calligraphy, with its intricate floral endings, on this panel from a marble cenotaph states the bismillah, "In the name of God the Merciful the Compassionate." As funerary inscriptions often begin with this phrase, followed by verses from the Qur’an and information about the deceased, that information probably would have appeared on the rest of the cenotaph. The decorative Kufic script on this panel developed from the austere angular Kufic used for earlier inscriptions.

Inscribed Marble Panel, Marble — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Inscribed Marble Panel

Date: 9th century

Geography: Made in Egypt

Medium: Marble

Dimensions: 14 3/16 x 19 5/16 x 1 3/4 in. (36 x 49 x 4.5 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Benaki Museum, Athens (10779)

Accession Number: isl480

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Medieval Art and The Cloisters at The Met

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance.