literally, "Book of Kings"; an epic poem recounting the history of Persian kingship from legendary times to the advent of the Arab conquests of Iran. It was compiled and versified in the ele [..]

the direction Muslims face when performing ritual prayers, toward the Ka'ba in Mecca.

the region of southern Spain under Muslim rule from the eighth to the fifteenth century. Today this region is still known as Andalusia.

the region also known as Asia Minor, comprising most of present-day Turkey.

an Islamic decoration employing abstract intertwining vine, leaf, and plant motifs.

a collection of objects grouped together.

the indigenous people of North Africa living west of the Nile valley.

the phrase, "In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful," repeated before all but one chapter in the Qur'an (also sometimes spelled basmala).

an emblem similar to a coat of arms; in Mamluk art a blazon indicates an individual's status in the court hierarchy.

an ornamental projection on both decorative objects and architectural surfaces.