IFAO

A glass goblet in the form of a rounded cup kept in the Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo was discovered at Fustat city in 1962. This lustered glass cup was famous as the goblet of al-Amīr ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ibn ʿAlī and is 9.5 cm high and 13.5 cm in diameter. The decoration is painted in luster and the rim bears a simple kufic inscription that reads : “Bismillāh [al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm mimma ama]ra ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ibn ʿAlī aṣlaḥahu Allāh wa ʿazza naṣruhu”. “In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate. One of the things ordered by ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ibn ʿAlī. May God make him prosper and his his victory be glorified”.

It is worth mentioning that when Scanlon first published this goblet he dated it to the year 155 A.H. / 733 A.D. He based his dating on the inscription, which bears the name ʿAbd al-Ṣamad, and whom he identified as the governor of Egypt for one month in the year 155 A.H. / 733 A.D. under the second Abbasid Caliph Abū Ǧaʿfar al-Manṣūr. Several other scholars in the field accepted Scanlon’s words without question. However, none of the historical sources mention the name al-Amīr ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ibn ʿAlī among the Abbasid governors of Egypt at this date. Accordingly, and after further investigation in the historical sources, it became clear that ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ibn ʿAlī was one of the Abbasid officers who held several high positions under the Abbasids. On present historical evidence, however, this study concludes that the goblet can be firmly dated within the years 136-137 A.H. / 753-755 A.D., which precedes the generally accepted date by about eighteen or nineteen years. It now seems certain that the technique of painting in luster on glass was developed in Egypt as early as the second century A.H. / eighth century A.D.

Keywords : ʿAbd al-Ṣamad Ibn ʿAlī – lustered glass – boblet glass – Abbasid – inscription – islamic art – Fustat.

The Surra (bundle) for Mecca and Medina is the traditional money or funds sent by countries with the Haǧǧ caravan to be distributed among the poor of Mecca and Medina. Egyptian Sultans used to send Surra of money to Mecca and Medina with The Trustee of the Surra (who is responsible for its delivery cash remittance) who go to with Haǧǧ-journey and al-Maḥmal. This search publishes new document of Surra which khedive Ismail sent to Mecca and Medina in 1290 A.H – 1873 A.D.

Keywords : Surra – holy carpet – Maḥmal – piligrimage – money – piaster – palaces – coin – document – bundle – Mecca – Medina – poor – trustee – Egyptian sultans – khedive.

In this study, pigment materials in the Sabil Al-Kazlar were studied using XRD, SEM-EDAX, light optical microscope, UV analysis and FTIR in order to determine their miner-alogical and chemical composition and to evaluate how these pigments were affected by air pollution and clay minerals. The pigments revealed are golden pigment as gold (Au), black as bone black, and red pigment as cinnabar (HgS). The wooden ceiling collating the render-ing layer on which the pigments were applied is composed of anhydrite and gypsum mixed with sand. Lead sulfide was detected in the examined cinnabar red sample which indicates the effect of lead as a pollutant on the deterioration of the wall paintings. Clay minerals de-tected in the plaster layer on the ceiling in the Sabil are kaolinite and a smectite-illite mixed layer. The detection of halite in all the studied samples indicates the effect of rising ground-water on the studied ceiling. The wall paintings in Sabil Al-Kazlar were created using tem-pera technique with a rabbit skin glue medium. The artist used the multilayer style using the gesso grosso and the gesso sotile techniques.

Keywords : Sabil Al-Kazlar – pigments – air pollution – clay minerals – gold – cinnabar – bone black – Xrd – Sem-Edax – Ftir – cross section.

L’objectif de cet article est de présenter le fonds des archives grecques de Suez qui a été découvert en novembre 2008 dans la ville portuaire de la mer Rouge. Les archives sont constituées d’un matériau riche et diversifié (des registres des actes notariés, fiches d’enregistrement des ressortissants grecs de Suez, etc.), issu de la communauté, de l’école et du consulat grecs de Suez. Le fonds couvre, dans son ensemble, une période assez vaste : dès la fin du XIXe siècle jusqu’aux années 1960. Pendant cette période, la population grecque de Suez fut la population étrangère la plus nombreuse de la ville ainsi que la plus active sur les plans économique, social et culturel. Compte tenu de la rareté des informations sur la présence grecque dans les villes d’Égypte, à l’exception d’Alexandrie et du Caire, ce fonds s’avère extrêmement précieux pour les historiens intéressés par l’histoire contemporaine de l’Égypte et par l’histoire de la présence grecque dans ce pays.

Mots-clés : Égypte – Grecs – Suez – communauté – étrangers – archives – histoire contemporaine.

This article presents the collection of the Greek records of Suez, which was discovered in November 2008 in the port-city of the Red Sea. These records, deriving from the Greek community, school and consulate of the city, constitute a rich and diversified material (notarial acts, registration files of the Greek citizens of Suez, etc.), that covers a vast period: from the late 19th century to the 1960s. During that time the Greek population was the most numerous foreign group of Suez and the most active in terms of economic, social and cultural activities. Given the scarcity of information on the Greek presence in Egyptian cities other than Alexandria and Cairo, these records are extremely valuable for scholars interested in the contemporary history of Egypt and the history of the Greek presence in that country.

Keywords : Egypt – Greek community – Suez – foreigners – archives – contemporary history.

L’Éthiopie a souvent été considérée comme une région essentiellement chrétienne. La présence de l’islam, pourtant attestée dès le Xᵉ s., a fait l’objet de peu d’études. Outre les témoignages qui nous ont été transmis par des auteurs ayant appartenu au domaine musulman, il existe de rares témoins épigraphiques en arabe qui, bien que documentés depuis plus d’un siècle, ont trop souvent été négligés. Cet article étudie quelques-unes de ces inscriptions qui ont été identifiées au cours des dernières années et, dans certains cas publiées, offrant alors une nouvelle lecture et interprétation. Il contribue ainsi à une meilleure connaissance de la diffusion de l’islam dans cette région.

Mots-clés : Épigraphie – Éthiopie – Tombes – XIᵉ-XVᵉ s.

Ethiopia has often been regarded as a mainly Christian area. The presence of Islam, yet recorded from the tenth century, was the subject of few studies. In addition to the testimonies that have been transmitted by writers belonging to the Muslim area, there are few epigraphic witnesses in Arabic that, though documented for over a century, have too often been neglected. This article examines some of the inscriptions that have been identified in recent years and, in some cases, published, offering, in this case, a new reading and interpretation. It thus contributes to a better understanding of the spread of Islam in this region.

Keywords : Epigraphy – Ethiopia – Tombs – 11th-15th c.

Rares sont les lettres privées à porter une date. La plus ancienne semble la présente, adressée par un inconnu à quatre femmes vivant sous le même toit.

Mots-clés : papyrologie arabe, correspondance, datation, premiers siècles de l’islam.

Private letters are rarely dated. The oldest surviving specimen may well be the one presented in this article. It was addressed by an unknown person to four wives living under the same roof.

Keywords : Arabic papyrology – correspondence – datation – Early Islam.

Le verso arabe et grec de la lettre de Qurra b. Šarīk P.Sorb. inv.2344 est publié ici pour la première fois. On en tire la date du texte, 18 janvier-17 février 709.

Mots-clés : Qurra b. Šarīk – poste – flotte – ravitaillement.

The Arabic and Greek text on the verso of the letter of Qurra b. Šarīk P.Sorb. inv.2344 is here published for the first time. From it one can establish the date of the document as 18th January – 17th February 709.

Keywords : Qurra b. Šarīk – mail – fleet – food supplies.

L’article présente une édition et une analyse d’une nouvelle lettre de la chancellerie du bien connu gouverneur Qurra b. Šarīk (en fonction 90-96/709-714). Qurra réprimande le destinataire, Basile, pagarque d’Išqūh/Aphrodito pour avoir retardé l’envoi de l’argent des taxes et des prélèvements extraordinaires ; il lui demande d’envoyer ce qui est dû. Le gouverneur s’exprime avec la langue « musclée » dont il est coutumier dans la correspondance, mais on trouve aussi quelques phrases jusqu’alors inusitées.

Mots-clés : papyrologie arabe – fiscalité – Qurra b. Šarīk – Išqūh/Aphrodito.

This article presents an edition and analysis of a new letter from the chancellery of the well-known governor of Egypt Qurra b. Šarīk (in office 90-96/709-714). Qurra reprimands the recipient, the pagarch Basilius of Išqūh /Aphrodito, of having delayed the sending of money taxes and extraordinary levies urging him to send what is due. The governor uses the kind of strong language and expressions that are familiar from his correspondence, but also contains some unique phrases.

Keywords : Arabic papyrology – taxes – Qurra b. Šarīk – Išqūh/Aphrodito.

Le motif du carré dans le cercle, combiné à l’écriture naskhi, était la signature, immédiatement reconnaissable, des souverains almohades sur leurs monnaies. Il s’agit dans cette étude de suivre la diffusion et l’imitation depuis la péninsule Ibérique vers les provinces les plus orientales du monde musulman de ce type monétaire bien particulier. Après nous être penchée sur les étapes successives de l’adoption de ce type dans le Proche-Orient ayyoubide et sur les motivations, économiques et politiques, qui ont pu y présider, nous abordons l’imitation de ce même type par les souverains ghurides d’Afghanistan puis par les sultans de Dehli.

Mots-clés : monnaies musulmanes – type monétaire – imitation – Almohades – Ayyoubides – Ghurides

The motif of a square within a circle, together with the naskhi script, used to be the unambiguous signature of the money of the Almohads. In this study, we traced the spread, from al-Andalus towards Far East, of this particular monetary type and its successive imitations. Initially imitated for economic and political reasons in the Ayyūbid Near East, the square in the circle type was widely adopted as far as Afghanistan and India under the rule of the Ghūrids and Sultans of Dehli.

Keywords : Islamic coins – monetary types – imitation – Almohads – Ayyūbids – Ghūrids

Cet article entreprend de retracer les innovations judiciaires qui eurent lieu en Égypte au premier âge abbasside, à travers une étude des cadis connus pour avoir été les premiers à adopter une pratique donnée. Dans la seconde moitié du IIᵉ/VIIIᵉ siècle, le rayonnement du milieu juridique égyptien – attaché de manière critique à l’école médinoise – se manifesta jusqu’à la cour abbasside, qui construisit en partie sa centralité par assimilation de modèles provinciaux. L’attraction à Bagdad de plusieurs juristes ou cadis égyptiens provoqua en retour, à Fusṭāṭ, l’adoption de nouvelles pratiques judiciaires vraisemblablement inspirées par des modèles iraqiens. La centralisation de la judicature par al-Manṣūr et ses successeurs, qui envoyèrent en Égypte une série de cadis formés en Iraq, accentua encore l’influence des pra-tiques iraqiennes sur le tribunal de Fusṭāṭ. Paradoxalement, l’affirmation de l’autorité centrale sur la judicature égyptienne mit également en branle une dynamique d’innovations provinciales : la désignation à Fusṭāṭ de cadis non-égyptiens provoqua une réorganisation de l’appareil judiciaire au tournant du IIIᵉ/IXᵉ siècle, notamment par la création de nouveaux réseaux et la mise en place d’un corps de témoins professionnels dont l’usage était destiné à contaminer d’autres provinces du califat.

Mots-clés : cadis – régionalisme – innovations – Égypte – Iraq – maḏhab-s – tribunaux – témoins – califat abbasside

This article recounts the judicial innovations that developed in Egypt during the early Abbasid caliphate, through an analysis of qāḍī-s who were the first to adopt a legal practice. The Egyptian legal milieu, which was critically committed to the Medinese school, had some influence in the middle of the 2nd/8th century as far as the Abbasid court, which developed its centrality in part through assimilating provincial models. In return, the attraction of sev-eral prominent Egyptian jurists or qāḍī-s to Bagdad caused the adoption, in Fusṭāṭ, of new judicial practices inspired by Iraqi models. Centralisation of the judiciary under al-Manṣūr and his successors, who sent to Egypt a series of qāḍī-s trained in Iraq, further increased the influence of Iraqi practices at the court of Fusṭāṭ. Paradoxically, the reinforcement of central authority on the Egyptian judiciary also set in motion a dynamic of local innovations : the apointment in Fusṭāṭ of non-Egyptian qāḍī-s caused a reorganisation of the court system at the turn of the 3rd/9th century, in particular through the creation of new networks and the setting up of a body of professional witnesses, an institution which later spread to other provinces of the caliphate.