A Magical Rock Crystal Gem from Apollonia-Arsūf, Israel

Stefan Heidemann; Annette Zeischka-Kenzler; Oren Tal; Dana Ashkenazi; Omri Dvir

doi:10.1558/jia.38017

A Magical Rock Crystal Gem from Apollonia-Arsūf, Israel

Stefan Heidemann, Annette Zeischka-Kenzler, Oren Tal, Dana Ashkenazi, Omri Dvir

Department of Archaeology

Tel Aviv University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This article discusses an inscribed large crystal rock gem (2.70 x 2.15 x 1.65 cm), retrieved during the excavations at Apollonia-Arsūf. It bears a two-line magical inscription written in linear Kūfic script. It is the first magical rock crystal ever found in a proper archaeological context. Based on its appearance, it can only be vaguely dated between the eighth to the twelfth centuries. A late date would make it contemporary to the associated ceramics in that layer. The relative proximity of the find place to Egypt makes an origin of the talisman from Ftimid Egypt likely, as may also be suggested in our analytical appendix.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	225-239
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of Islamic Archaeology
Volume	5
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1558/jia.38017
State	Published - 2018

Keywords

Arsūf
Ayyūbid period
Crusader
Fātimid
Linear Kūfic script
Magic
Palestine
Rock crystal
Talisman

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Archaeology
Archaeology

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10.1558/jia.38017

Cite this

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title = "A Magical Rock Crystal Gem from Apollonia-Arsūf, Israel",

abstract = "This article discusses an inscribed large crystal rock gem (2.70 x 2.15 x 1.65 cm), retrieved during the excavations at Apollonia-Arsūf. It bears a two-line magical inscription written in linear Kūfic script. It is the first magical rock crystal ever found in a proper archaeological context. Based on its appearance, it can only be vaguely dated between the eighth to the twelfth centuries. A late date would make it contemporary to the associated ceramics in that layer. The relative proximity of the find place to Egypt makes an origin of the talisman from Ftimid Egypt likely, as may also be suggested in our analytical appendix.",

keywords = "Arsūf, Ayyūbid period, Crusader, Fātimid, Linear Kūfic script, Magic, Palestine, Rock crystal, Talisman",

author = "Stefan Heidemann and Annette Zeischka-Kenzler and Oren Tal and Dana Ashkenazi and Omri Dvir",

note = "Funding Information: Excavations were carried out in the framework of a project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: Die kreuzfahrerzeitliche Stadt Apollonia/Arsur in Israel: Struktur—Kulturadaption—Stadt-Umland-Beziehun-gen, co-headed by Barbara Scholkmann of the Eberhard Karls Universit{\"a}t T{\"u}bingen and Oren Tal of Tel Aviv University (GZ: SCHO 520/14–1/14–2). Annette Zeischka-Kenzler was the area supervisor who has also discovered this find. Tamar Harpak was the registrar.",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.1558/jia.38017",

language = "الإنجليزيّة",

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AU - Tal, Oren

AU - Ashkenazi, Dana

AU - Dvir, Omri

N1 - Funding Information: Excavations were carried out in the framework of a project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: Die kreuzfahrerzeitliche Stadt Apollonia/Arsur in Israel: Struktur—Kulturadaption—Stadt-Umland-Beziehun-gen, co-headed by Barbara Scholkmann of the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen and Oren Tal of Tel Aviv University (GZ: SCHO 520/14–1/14–2). Annette Zeischka-Kenzler was the area supervisor who has also discovered this find. Tamar Harpak was the registrar.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - This article discusses an inscribed large crystal rock gem (2.70 x 2.15 x 1.65 cm), retrieved during the excavations at Apollonia-Arsūf. It bears a two-line magical inscription written in linear Kūfic script. It is the first magical rock crystal ever found in a proper archaeological context. Based on its appearance, it can only be vaguely dated between the eighth to the twelfth centuries. A late date would make it contemporary to the associated ceramics in that layer. The relative proximity of the find place to Egypt makes an origin of the talisman from Ftimid Egypt likely, as may also be suggested in our analytical appendix.

AB - This article discusses an inscribed large crystal rock gem (2.70 x 2.15 x 1.65 cm), retrieved during the excavations at Apollonia-Arsūf. It bears a two-line magical inscription written in linear Kūfic script. It is the first magical rock crystal ever found in a proper archaeological context. Based on its appearance, it can only be vaguely dated between the eighth to the twelfth centuries. A late date would make it contemporary to the associated ceramics in that layer. The relative proximity of the find place to Egypt makes an origin of the talisman from Ftimid Egypt likely, as may also be suggested in our analytical appendix.

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KW - Ayyūbid period

KW - Crusader

KW - Fātimid

KW - Linear Kūfic script

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KW - Palestine

KW - Rock crystal

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SN - 2051-9710

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EP - 239

JO - Journal of Islamic Archaeology

JF - Journal of Islamic Archaeology

IS - 2

ER -

A Magical Rock Crystal Gem from Apollonia-Arsūf, Israel

Abstract

Keywords

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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