Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

sages, followed by blessings for the pro-
phet Muhammad, and then the name of
the caliph and his title amir al-mu'minin
("commander of the faithful"). In the nar-
rower band only the pious devise al-mulk
li-llah ("the kingdom is of God") is re-
peated in the seams.
Fragment Nd.02.221 [Fig. 2] is a tiraz
from the period after al-Hakim. The begin-
ning and end of the line is missing, and the
name of the caliph is not preserved. But
there is the title safi amir al-mu'minin
("best friend of the commander of the faith-
ful"). This title was first given to the vizier
al-Djardjaray who was in office from
418 H / AD 1027 under al-Hakim's son,
the Fatimid caliph az-Zahir (411-427 H /
AD 1021-1025), and under his follower al-
Mustansir bi-llah (427-487 FI / AD 1035-
1094) until 436 FI / AD 1044. Thus, the
inscription is to be dated to between 1027
and 1044. It is done in fine tapestry work
with blue silk, and around the letters also
in fine natural-colored linen thread. The
style is a neat thin kufi with thin tendrils
between the stems of the letters.
The other single-line tiraz inscription
is made in embroidery (Nd.02.l44). The
text repeats a religious devise (cf. below).

There is a third inscription, also em-
broidered, on the upper part of a tunic
sleeve (Nd.02.213). Unfortunately, the silk
threads have virtually disappeared, and it
is no longer possible to read the text.
Most of the inscriptions found bear re-
peated pious devises. The longest of these
is nasr min allah wa-fath qarib ("assist-
ance from God and speedy victory"), found
on one fabric (Nd.02.246) with four ta-
pestry bands [Fig. 3]. Each repeats this
devise. The inscription is done in natural-
colored linen thread on a brown silk
ground, which is filled with a spiral yellow
tendril with green leafs. The calligraphic
style is the cursive naskhi. It can be placed
in the 12th century. This device is often
found in the shorter version which gives
the first part, nasr min allah, only. It was
very much used in the mainly yellow-red
tapestries of the 12th century.5 Other de-
vises found are baraka min allah ("bles-
sing from God"), al-yumn min allah wa-
l-'afiya ("good luck/success and prosperity
from God"), ynmn min allah ("good luck/
success from God"), al-mulk li-llah ("the
kingdom is of God"). We find also one
word only, baraka ("blessing"), allah, or
even parts ol such words.6 Fragment


Fig. 2. Coffin shroud, fragment Nd.02.221
(Photo T. Szmagier)

5 Cf. Nd.02.168 from a tunic in: Godlewski, PAM XIV, op. cit., 167, Fig. 3b

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