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Artist Sholeh Wolpé seated in a garden wearing a black shirt and red scarf
Video
Poet Sholeh Wolpé honors the enduring wisdom of a twelfth-century, Sufi epic.
October 6, 2022
Detail of the Conference of the Birds folio
Audio
“It’s a world that’s designed to please the eye and please the soul.”
Maryam Ekhtiar and Leili Anvar
October 6, 2022
Detail of the Astronomicum Caesareum
Video
This most sumptuous of all Renaissance instructive manuals explained the use of the astrolabe and other instruments used for computing planetary positions
October 3, 2022
Irving Penn's "The Tarot Reader (Bridget Tichenor and Jean Patchett), New York" with two women in stylist black clothing reading tarot cards with a diagram of a hand behind them
“At first glance, this Irving Penn photo looks like it could be its own tarot card.”
Alexander Chee
September 28, 2022
Blue, turquoise and opaque white tile panel decorated with Qur'anic verses
Video
Hear the recitation of the sacred verses on this tile panel.
Mohammad Farsimadan
September 27, 2022
Brass pen box decorated with interlocking medallions
Video
Listen to the poetry on this inlaid metalwork pen box.
Mohammad Farsimadan
September 27, 2022
Detail of a calligraphic emblem decorated with flowers
Video
Listen to the words in the royal insignia of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.
Mohammad Farsimadan
September 27, 2022
Off-white ceramic bowl with Arabic inscription in front of a black background
Video
Listen to the proverb on this epigraphic slip-painted bowl.
Mohammad Farsimadan
September 27, 2022
17th century etching of two peasant card players and a skeleton representing death
Audio
Grab a cup of tea and join us for a bonus episode on tarot.
September 14, 2022
Detail of the interior of a 5th-century BC bronze Chinese zhong or bell with a green patina
Audio
Dive into the magic of iron, bronze, lead, and copper.
August 17, 2022