This manuscript contains the biographies of saints whom the church commemorates in the month of January. It was originally part of a set containing volumes for each month of the year. A companion volume, with texts for March, now survives in Moscow (State Historical Museum MS gr. 183).
Each chapter in both manuscripts opens with a miniature depicting the death of the respective saint, or less often, another significant event from his or her life. Each text also ends with a seven-line prayer for the well-being of an emperor whose name is spelled by the lines' initial letters as "MIC[H]AEL P." This is almost certainly the Byzantine emperor Michael IV, who reigned from 1034 to 1041. The meaning of the letter "P" is not quite clear.
When first used, the books were read out in the emperor's presence, probably in one of the numerous chapels of the great imperial palace in Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. A single leaf from the Walters' volume is now kept in Berlin (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Ms. Graec. Fol. 31). By the sixteenth century, several folios were missing and paper leaves copied from a Metaphrastian Menologion were added at this time.For the latest information about this object, illuminated manuscripts, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
This type of dagger, characteristic of India and Southeast Asia, has an H-shaped grip so that the user’s knuckles are perpendicular to the wide blade, giving the dagger the strength and stability of the balled fist when thrust directly at the opponent. The shape remained popular for centuries, so precise dating is difficult. The shape and attention to ornament distinguish the Indian fist dagger, known as a "katar," from the typical European dagger, which is more flexible in its use but rarely so exuberantly decorated.
By at least the later 1500s, Indian fist daggers were prized by European noble collectors. Inventories of the collections of Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria (1529–95), who owned more than one, suggest that he was fascinated by the weaponry of other cultures.
For the latest information about this object, fist daggers; katars, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
A mihrab is a niche in a mosque or other Muslim religious building that indicates the direction for prayer toward Mecca, recalling the place where the Prophet Muhammad stood to lead the early Muslim community in prayer. Ceramic plaques in the shape of mihrabs are often found in shrines and mausoleums and on tombstones and cenotaphs (funerary monuments), where they may have had a commemorative or memorial function.
With its combination of molded and painted decoration, this blue and brown lusterware work is typical of ceramic "mihrab" plaques made in medieval Iran. The large inscription in the outer frame begins with the "bismallah" ("In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate") and continues with a Qur'anic verse that refers directly to the recitation and prayer that Muslims perform in front of a "mihrab": "Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony" (Sura al-Bani Isra'il: chapter 17, verse 78). One of the final, and shortest, chapters of the Qur'an (Sura al-Ikhlas: chapter 112) is inscribed on the white band around the central arch.
For the latest information about this object, tiles; plaques, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Translation] "bismallah": In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate; [Translation] From Sura al-Bani Isra'il: chapter 17, verse 78: Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony; [Inscription] From Sura al-Ikhlas: chapter 112 on white band around central archReign: Style:
Egyptians enjoyed playing board games, especially senet, or "passing." During the 18th dynasty, the game acquired religious significance, which transformed it into a simulation of the soul's journey through the underworld to achieve immortality. Throw sticks, much like dice, determined a player's moves, and winning required both skill and luck. This senet game board of 30 squares required 14 game pieces, like these spool- and cone-shaped pieces.For the latest information about this object, gameboards, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 19th-20th DynastyInscriptions: [Translation] First of the Priests of Amun, One who is in the place of the Temple of Amun-Ré (an acolyte of Amun-Ré), King of the gods, Nesi-amun-ipet, the Justified of Voice, the gift of Amun himself.Reign: Style:
Egyptians enjoyed playing board games, especially "senet," or "passing." From the Old Kingdom, the game also had religious significance, which transformed it into a simulation of the soul's journey through the underworld to achieve immortality. Throw sticks, much like dice, determined a player's moves, and winning required both skill and luck. The "senet" game board of 30 squares required 14 game pieces, like this one.For the latest information about this object, game pieces, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 18th-21st DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:
Egyptians enjoyed playing board games, especially "senet," or "passing." During the 18th dynasty, the game acquired religious significance, which transformed it into a simulation of the soul's journey through the underworld to achieve immortality. Throw sticks, much like dice, determined a player's moves, and winning required both skill and luck. The "senet" game board of 30 squares required 14 game pieces, like this one.For the latest information about this object, game pieces, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 18th-21st DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:
"Turban" helmets are so-called from similarities to the traditional headdress of Turkish men. Chain mail, protecting the neck and face, was attached to holes on the lower edges. Surfaces could be decorated by vertical fluting and etched patterns of scrolls and floral motifs.For the latest information about this object, helmets, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Originally mounted on a tall pole and dressed with fabric streamers, this standard (‘alam) was paraded through the streets and public squares of Iran during ritual festivities commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn (d. 680), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Projecting dragon heads frame an intricate calligraphic composition that bears the names of the 12 imams (religious leaders) central to the branch of Shia Islam adopted as the official state religion by the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736). Adherents of Shia Islam believe that the legitimate successor to the Prophet Muhammad was ‘Ali, the father of Husayn and son-in-law of Muhammad.For the latest information about this object, standards, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: [Inscriptions] On front at bottom: عمل محمد تقی اردوبادی; [Translation] Work of Muhammad Taqi Ordubadi; [Inscription] On back at bottom:۱۰۷۵; الله ولی توفیق; [Translation] 1075; God is the bestower of success
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1 tray, 1 coffee pot, 2 coffee cups, each with a porcelain insert, and 2 oval boxesFor the latest information about this object, coffeepots, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
These illustrations from Walters manuscript W.659 depict a balsam tree (balsan) and an oak tree (ballut).For the latest information about this object, illuminated manuscripts; folios (leaves), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Ottoman DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:
