Royal figural scenes in Andalusian Art During the Caliphate era in Cordoba (316-422 AH/ 929-1031 AD): New vision in light of some ivory antiques

• Published in: Majallat al-ʻimārah wa-al-funūn wa-al-ʻulūm al-insānīyah 2023-01, Vol.8 (37), p.679-717
• Main Author: Ramy Rashed
• Format: Article
• Language: Arabic
• Subjects: caliphate era; cordoba; ivory antiques; royal figural scene
• ISSN: 2356-9654; 2357-0342
• DOI: 10.21608/mjaf.2021.63096.2216

Andalusian ivory Antiques have a great historical importance and extremely artistic value during the Umayyad Caliphate era in Cordoba ( 316– 422AH / 929– 1031AD ), Because of; its decorations, inscriptions, and figural scenes which reflect many important characteristics and attributes showing the extent of artistic progress and a life of luxury in Al-andalus during Umayyad Caliphate era, and they also highlight many of the well-known aspects of life within the Muslim community during that era.On the other hand, the phenomenon of "personal figural scenes", relating to the Caliphs, Princes, and Senior statesmen, has been known in Islamic art in the Levant and Iraq since the early age during the Umayyad and Abbasid eras, on buildings and coins, and all of them are almost identical in some artistic characteristics related to those characters, in terms of their features, clothes, movements, and royal insignia, Whether it is in their private or entertainment councils, with their aides and servants, as we find analogues on Andalusian ivory Antiques during the Umayyad Caliphate era in Cordoba.Research Objectives: For that, This study aims to treat and analyze some figural scenes engraved on models of these Ivory antiques, in order to:- know their artistic truth, and to prove that they are figural scenes related to senior statesmen and the High folk in reality, and it's not just decorative themes. - Monitor some of the social aspects of these men in terms of their features, clothes, movements, royal insignia, and means of their fun and entertainment.- The extent to which the significance of these figural scenes are compatible with historical information related to their private life, their social status, and their career plans. - Finally, Highlighting aspects of the Umayyad and Abbasid eastern influences in these figural scenes.Research Methodology:The study relies on both descriptive and analytical approaches to interpret these figural scenes, and proof that they are Royal figural scenes of these characters in fact, as one of the eastern artistic influences in the Andalusian civilization during the Caliphate era in Cordoba (316- 422AH / 929- 1031AD).