The Chair of Reniseneb -- a chair from the 15th century BCE. It was used by the scribe Reniseneb, during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III (r.1479–1425 BCE). Made of carved ebony with ivory inlay. The seat (made of woven reeds) is a modern reproduction, as the original has since decayed. [2978x3722]
A ball, found in the tomb of a child in Tarkhan, Egypt. It's made from a linen rag, maybe torn from an old bedsheet or tunic, rolled into a ball and tied together with string. It was likely beloved by the child in life, and his/her parents buried it so he/she could play in the Afterlife. [2000x2000]
The Ortakoy Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey. Built on a pier on the European side of the Bosphorus, this mosque was founded in 1853 by Sultan Abdulmecid I. Although small compared to other Ottoman grand mosques, it is distinctive for its blending of Ottoman and Neo-Baroque architectural styles. [4878x5854]
The Letter of Prester John. This letter from 1165 was purportedly written by a mythical Christian king in the East, who ruled over a land full of riches and strange marvels. This forged letter was used to inspire support for the Crusades, as Prester John promised aid against the Muslims. [1092x1600]
Scene from a wall relief at the Royal Palace of Nineveh, depicting Ashurbanipal's lion-hunt. This staged hunt was a work of propaganda, meant to show off the lions' ferocity & how the King was able to defeat them. Ceremonial hunts like this drove lions to extinction across Asia and Europe [1600x900]
The Moroccan Quarter of Jerusalem. Founded in the 1193 by Saladin's son, the Quarter was home to a community of North African/Andalusian descent - both Muslims and Sephardi Jews. It was destroyed by Israeli forces in 1967, to extend the Jewish Quarter to the Temple Mount. Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine
The Grand Mosque of Seville. Built in 1172, it became a Catholic cathedral when Seville fell to Castile in 1248. Between 1434-1517, the Moorish architecture was demolished and replaced by a new Gothic-style structure. The Giralda (belltower; former minaret) is all that remains of the original mosque
The Battle of Chaldiran, painted here on the walls of the Chehel-Sotoun Pavilion in Esfahan, Iran. Chaldiran was of the most significant battles between the Ottomans and Safavids, and a decisive Ottoman victory. A deciding factor was Ottoman artillery, as depicted in the top-left corner. [1612x1726]
Tipu's Tiger: a musical automaton built to resemble an Indian tiger devouring an Englishman. It was made by Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who fought several wars with the British East India Company, and was a renowned scientist and inventor. This tiger contains an 18-note programmable pipe organ [1000x750]
