Ancient Artifact Review 112 : Antique Malay Pending / Belt Buckle 19th Century

 

The pending is a belt buckle worn by both men and women, often in an ogival shape and decorated with floral and vegetal motifs. This pending is made of silver repousse and believed worn by men due to its large size. Some pendings that are made of gold, adorned with repoussé work and valuable gemstones, were worn by nobility. Various metalworking techniques, such as repoussé, chasing, niello, wire filigree, and faceted granulation, were used to create different aesthetic effects

Pending that is shaped like an eye. This shape is likely a symbol. In the middle there is a circle that becomes the center or pending eyeball, some are studded with jewels. Pending has smooth or notched edges, decorated with clouds or abstract decorations or plant shapes such as ghost spinach, creeping flowers or scaly animals. Everything is arranged in the area between the lines according to the pending form. In the middle, surrounded by a circle arranged with plant motifs. This decoration is produced by tapping and then carved in a traditional way.

The pending design shares similarities with those made by Chinese craftsmen for the Chinese communities in Malacca, Penang, and Singapore. In the Iban community in Sarawak, the pending serves a different purpose, being used by women to cover their chest.

Artifact Specs :

Item : Silver Repousse Pending ( Belt Buckle)

Dim : 27 cm x 15 cm

Weight : TBA

Date : 19th Century CE

Purchased Price :

Reference :  pg 47, Islamic Civilization in the Malay World

Ancient Artifact Review 111 : Antique Borneo / Brunei Brass Pot 19th Century

 

This brass container known as “sulang”. During the 1800s, these containers were significant symbols of wealth and status among the wealthy Malay and Dayak people in Sarawak as well as in Brunei. They were often kept as heirlooms and used for various purposes, including storing jewelry and serving food.

Artifact Specs :

Item : Borneo or Brunei brass pot

Dim : 24 cm x 25 cm

Weight : 2.5kg

Date : 19th Century CE

Purchased Price :

Reference : 

Similar pot was seen displayed in the Museum of Brunei as below.

Ancient Artifact Review 110 : Antique Ottoman Brass 3 faces Stamp dated 1311 AH ( 1893 CE)

 

This is an interesting Ottoman era 3 faces stamp dated 1311 AH ( 1893 CE)

There is a clear date written in Arabic on 1 face. The second one looks like انشاءالله

But I couldn't figure out the third word.

A similar stamp can be seen in below link :

A Dated Ottoman Stamp 001

Dim : 50mm x 20mm

Date : 1311 AH ( 1893 CE)

Material : Brass

Origin : Turkey

Price : 

Ancient Coin Review 122 : Earliest Arab-Byzantine / Pseudo Byzantine coin minted during time of Umar ibn al-Khattab ( 634-644 CE) dated 640 CE

 

This is the earliest Arab-Byzantine coin which was minted during the era of the early caliphate (Rashidun Caliphate) between 638-647 CE. This folles is an imitated coin of contemporary Byzantine circulating issues of Heraclius struck in Cyprus. It has a frozen regnal year of 17.  This coin is classified as type B which could have been struck circa 640 CE the earliest and not more than 645 CE. Umar Ibn al-Khattab led the Muslim community from 634 - 644 CE. 

Obverse

Three standing imperial figures, Heraclius in centre to his right Martina ( his niece-bride ) and to his left Heraclius Constantine ( his son ), wearing chlamys and crown with cross, holding globus crucigers.

Reverse

Uncial letter M, to left downwards ANNO to right downwards regnal year XЧII ( = year 17 AD 627/628) between limbs of M officina letter Γ( third officina ) above Heraclian monogram hR and in exergue mint-signature (ΚΥΠΡ')

After the battle of Yarmuk in 636 CE, Syria was taken over from Byzantine power.

To keep economy activities in the area, imitations of coin were made reflecting Hercules and Constans II. For example, coins from Emperor Constans II, who succeeded after the Battle of Yarmuk, were found in Syria and Cyprus long after the Byzantine Empire had supposedly lost control. This indicates that coins might have been struck in Cyprus for use in Islamic provinces. Yet due to abundance of this coins were discovered mainly in Syria and rarely in Cyprus hypothesized that they were most probably struck in an area that is modern day Syria; a plethora of imitations were put into circulation during the early days when the Arabs controlled the region; especially folles bearing the Cypriot mint-signature were singled out for copying in preference to other issues. The prototype coin most likely from below Heraclius coin which has weight 5gm and diam of 26mm.

Additionally, coins with the Cyprus mint-mark were likely produced in Syria, imitating earlier issues. This raises several possibilities: the coins might be unofficial imitations, or there could have been a mint in Cyprus under Islamic control producing coins that looked authentic. Alternatively, Constantinople might have been producing coins specifically for export to Cyprus and Syria.

This coin has a peculiar shape which has an elliptical flan due to cutting the angular corners. This coin could be struck a cut coin of earlier bigger Byzantine follis with 2 corners trimmed to give it oval shape. The larger follis could be from 11gm weight.

The name “copper” originates from the Roman era when the metal was primarily mined on the island of Cyprus. It was initially called aes cyprium (metal of Cyprus), which was later shortened to cuprum in Latin. This evolved into the Old English “coper” and eventually became “copper” around 1530.

Obverse :      

Three standing imperial figures, Heraclius in centre to his right Martina ( his niece-bride ) and to his left Heraclius Constantine ( his son ), wearing chlamys and crown with cross, holding globus crucigers.

Reverse : 

Uncial letter M, to left downwards ANNO to right downwards regnal year XЧII ( = year 17 AD 627/628) between limbs of M officina letter Γ( third officina ) above Heraclian monogram hR and in exergue mint-signature (ΚΥΠΡ')

Weight : 0.59 gm

Dim : 29 mm

Date : Frozen 17 Heraclius regnal year ( 627 CE) but imitated circa 640 CE

Rarity :

Denom : follis

Material : Copper

Reference : pg 13-16 (Arab Byzantine Coinage)

                   pg 22-24 ( Arab Byzantine Coins - Clive Foss)

Ancient Artifact Review 109 : Antique Malay Poems Jawi Plate / Pinggan Pantun (1819-1864 CE)

 

This is a priceless antique English plate decorated with Malay / Jawi motif & pantun (poems). This plate was manufactured by Williams Adams & Sons company sometime between 1819 CE to 1864 CE. This company was established in the early nineteenth century and great supplier of wares to India & the Far East. The trademark can be seen at the bottom of this plate, written W. Adams And Son under a medallion inside which is inscribed the name of the motif viz MALAY.

"The plate was printed using the process of transfer-printing, which was first used in England around 1750. The design is engraved on a metal plate, then impressed on a thin piece of paper, and transferred to the surface of the pottery or porcelain."

The pantun inscribed on the rims written :

" Yang membuat namanya Adam,

wakilnya Tolson di Betawi,

Syair dan pantun banyaklah ragam,

Janganlah tuan kikir membeli"

Anderson Tolson is probably a retailing firm in Batavia.

The pantun inscribed 4 lines in the centre written :

Papan di tarah raja bangsawan

Laksamana mandi berdiri

Badan terserah padamu tuan

Tiada ke mana membawa diri

There is an interesting research & article written by Henri Chambert-Loir from Almanac Indonesia & The Malay World in regards to the this type of plate. It was quite extensive research and dug further to its origin and its design. The handwriting print on this plate belongs to Khatib Muharis. Even though his name is not printed on this plate, there are others with the same handwriting bearing his name. Diameter of this plate is 22cm

In the book, Piring Puisi Melayu, Abu Muawiyah classified the piring as PPM-E3 on page 303.

See below link to see what else Dr Henri said about this plate writing tradition :

Dr Henri talk on pinggan pantun

Similar plate was seen in Muzium Warisan Melayu UPM, check below link about this plate :

Pinggan Pantun in Muzium Warisan Melayu

I have quite similar design of this plate below :

Pinggan Pantun

See below my other Malay Plate

Pinggan Pantun

Reference :

Eating the text : English plates decorated with Malay poems, by Henri Chambert-Loir ( published in Indonesia & The Malay World 1994)

Piring Puisi Melayu, by Abu Muawiyah, Maktabah Nasir Addunya Waddin

Crescent Moon : Islamic Art & Civilisation South East Asia, pg 78

Ancient Manuscript Review 208 : Antique Quran Arabic Islamic Papyrus from Egypt ( 8th Century)

 

This is a papyrus fragment written in Qurra ( Naskh) script in black ink. I couldn't decipher the content of this fragment. It is written in Arabic language and it could be Quranic or just Arabic document.Origin from Egypt and purchased from USA with COA. It is claimed from 8th Century CE based on the paleography and the medium

I don't have much information of this kind of manuscript and its writing tradition. I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. I welcome any feedback on this fragment.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Islamic Papyus Manuscript

Content :  Islamic / Quranic

Dim : 100mm x 95mm

Date : 8th century CE

Copyist :  N/A

Origin :  Egypr

Calligraphy : Qurra / Naskh

Design :

Purchased Price :US

Ancient Artifact Review 108 : Antique Thai Silver Modesty Plate / Chainlink Mesh Caping/ Pubic Cover 19th Century CE

 

This is an interesting silver chain with shield shaped wire mesh modesty cover from Thailand. This chain was worn around the waist to cover private part of infant and young girls once they started walking until the age of 5 years old. Interestingly they did not wear anything else except this. 

From my research, this caping was worn by young girls in Northen Thailand.

I bought this item in Thailand however I came across a website which claimed that this mesh cover was also worn by Muslim babies in Indonesia. Anybody can verify this?

The reason this item caught my attention as it bore resemblance purpose to the Malay modesty disc or Caping as below link :

Malay Muslim Caping 01

Malay Muslim Caping 02

This chain has the length of 38cm whereas the chainlink plate has dimension of 8cm x 8cm

Ancient Artifact Review 107 : Antique Islamic marble/ tile from Essaouira Morocco ( 19th Century) - بركة محمد (Barakah Muhammad )

 

This is a rare marble slab from most likely the town of Essaouira, Morocco from 18-19th Century. The tile is made from white marble and inscribed with Arabic words, بركة محمد

The inscription looks like  بركة محمد  pronounced as Barakah Muhammad means blessing of Prophet Muhammad.

"Barakat Mohammed" is a sacred term for the inhabitants of Essaouira and you can find this inscription almost everywhere in the town.

The inhabitants of this town adorn their houses, shops, and building with this saacred inscription to invoke blessings.

The establishment of this type of tile dating from 18th century at the foundation of the town by the Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah al-Qatib ( Mohammed III c. 1710-1790), calling about divine protection of the town. He let build a fortress originally called Souira ("the small fortress"). Later the name was Es-Saouira ("the beautifully made, the picture") Today this town is called Essaouira.

Notice the "Barakat Mohammed" plate on the wall upper right (Souk el Jdid)

Compare this inscription with the calligraphy in the 17th Century Quranic Manuscripts from Morocco :

Kufi Quran Page

Also compare with my other similar tile but for Jews and inscribed in Hebrew :

Jewish Tile Barak

Artifact Specs :

Item : Marble Tile

Content :  بركة محمد  (Barakah Muhammad ) means blessing of Prophet Muhammad.
Dim : 13.5cm x 13.5cm x 2cm
Date : 19th Century CE
Purchased Price :
Reference : Pottery from Morocco 19th-20th Century

Ancient Manuscript Review 207 : Antique Ottoman Era document / Letter ( 1267 AH / 1851 CE)

 

This is a document written in old Turkish. The document was originally folded and sealed. I couldn't figure out what type of document this is. It could be a legal document or a personal ones.  The letter is written in Riqaah script in black. It was signed and dated 1267 AH ( 1851 CE). There is a watermark "Al Masso". According to my research, the paper is from Italian paper mill belongs to Marcos Antonio Portugal operating from 1762 to 1830 CE.

I don't have much information of this kind of manuscript and its writing tradition. I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. I welcome any feedback on this letter.

My other similar document is in below link

Ottoman Letter 01
Ottoman Letter 02
Ottoman Letter 03
Ottoman Letter 04
Ottoman Letter 05
Ottoman Letter 06
Ottoman Letter 07
Ottoman Letter 08

Ottoman Letter 09

Manuscript Specs

Item : Ottoman document
Content :  Unknown
Dim : 220mm x 160mm
Date : 1267 AH
Copyist : indechiperable
Origin :  Turkey
Calligraphy : Riqaah
Design :
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Coin Review 121 : Rare coin of King of Axum , Armah ( 614-631 CE) or King Najashi who helped Muslims/Prophet Companions first immigration to Abyssinia in 615 CE

This is a coin from the era of king of Axum / Aksum know as Armah or Ashamah Ibn Abjar or Najashi. He ruled Kingdom of Aksum in Abyssinia from 614 - 631 CE.

Obverse

King Najashi seated and crowned holding a long cross. King Armah in Ge'ez

Reverse

Cross framed by 2 stalks of grain. Let there be joy to the people (in Ge'ez)

The kingdom of Axum in a nutshell was an isolated and independent Christian kingdom in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea that survived from the 1st century AD to approx. the 9th century AD. They existed on equal footing with the the empires of the day. Rome, Persia and China. At some point they conquered the Himyarite Confederacy, in what is now Yemen, and absorbed the Sabean culture. They maintained strong ties with the Byzantine Empire until ultimately being cut off from trade by the Arab conquests of the surrounding area, and Axum fell into decline. The Kingdom of Axum is the proposed home of the Ark of the Covenant and the legendary home of the Queen of Sheba. The Axumite Monarchy was established based on a genealogical relationship with the King Solomon of Judea and the Queen of Sheba.

During his reign, the Muslims in Mecca faced severe persecutions by the polythiests and Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH) has allowed his followers to make the first migration to Abyssinia to save their faith and life. This Muslim emigrants were led by Jaafar bin Abu Talib in 615 CE.

When the polythiests from Mecca came to retrieve the Muslims, King Najashi refused to surrender them. 

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) after the Hudaibiyah Treaty in 6 AH ( 628 CE), sent letters to leading kings and rulers of the region inviting them to Islam. Amr bin Umayyah Dhimri was delegated to the court of Habesha. King Najashi received the letter with great honor, touched it with his eyes and read it. He came down from the throne and sat on the ground to show his humbleness and high respect for the Prophet of Allah. Later he asked the letter to be preserved in an ivory casket.

The king wrote back saying”...I testify that you are the Messenger of Allah, true and confirming those before you. I have given my allegiance to you and to your brother (i.e. Jafar) and I have surrendered myself through him to the Lord of the Worlds.”

Muslim emigrants returned with Jafar to Madinah when the Prophet (peace be upon him) conquered Khyber. They thanked King Najashi for his good protection and hospitality provided to them. When King Najashi expired in 631 CE the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered his funeral prayer in absentia, in Madinah. He is buried at a place called Najash in Ethiopia.

Prophet's Letter to Najashi

Najashi Tomb

Date ......... 614-631 CE
Ruler........... King Armah, Najashi
Condition.............. VF
Approx. diameter.............  18 mm
Approx. weight in grams............... 1.55 grams
Material....................bronze
Rarity.......................................scarce
Reference : Munro-Hay Type 153; BMC Aksum 573

Ancient Manuscript Review 206 : Antique Ottoman Era document / Letter ( 1248 AH / 1833 CE)

 

This is a document written in old Turkish. The document was originally folded and sealed. I couldn't figure out what type of document this is. It could be a legal document or a personal ones.  The letter is written in Riqaah script in black. It was signed and dated 1248 AH ( 1833 CE)
I don't have much information of this kind of manuscript and its writing tradition. I need to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry later. I welcome any feedback on this letter.

My other similar document is in below link
Ottoman Letter 01
Ottoman Letter 02
Ottoman Letter 03
Ottoman Letter 04
Ottoman Letter 05
Ottoman Letter 06
Ottoman Letter 07

Ottoman Letter 08

Manuscript Specs

Item : Ottoman document
Content :  Unknown
Dim : 220mm x 160mm
Date : 1248 AH
Copyist : indechiperable
Origin :  Turkey
Calligraphy : Riqaah
Design :
Purchased Price :US

Ancient Artifact Review 106 : Antique Ottoman Sufi Plate dated 1290 AH ( 1873 CE)

 

This is a large plate with Arabic calligraphy dated 1290 AH ( 1873 CE)

The arabic calligraphy is Thuluth style and with mirror image of لا اله الا هو ( There is no God except HIM). Also with date 1290 AH.

The calligraphy and the rim pattern were executed in a brown pigment with yellow base.

Item : An Ottoman plate with Arabic calligraphy

Content : Mirror image of لا اله الا هو

DIM : 30cm x 5xm

Ancient Coin Review 120 : Rare Cockerel Perched on 10 Rings Currency of Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin Muazzam Shah ( Kedah Sultanate 1710 - 1773 CE)

This is a very rare Cockerel-shaped tin coin of Kedah Sultanate. 

This coin is in the shape of a fighting cockerel perched on a number of rings attached to its base. In this specimen, 10 rings are attached to its base.

See picture below to understand how the cockerel money looks like.

According to The Encyclopedia of the Coins of Malaysia Singapore & Brunei, the cockerel itself worths 5 cents of the Spanish Dollar with each ring  carries 1 cent in value. The rings were broken off for a small purchase of a few cents.

This type of currency was first regulated during the time of Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin Muazzam Shah reigning Kedah from 1710CE to 1773 CE. They were still in circulation till mid 19th Century.

Kedah is located in the northwestern part of Peninsular of Malaysia. The name of Kedah originated from the Sanskrit word Kadaram. It is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Aman ( Abode of Peace).  The sultanate was the earliest one on the Malay Peninsular as well as one of the oldest Sultanate in the world.

The kingdom began in 630CE as a Hindu Kingdom which the first king was Maharaja Derbar Raja who originally a defeated Persian king of Gemeron ( Bandar Abbas) who fled to Kedah. The people of Kedah found him to be a very smart & tactical man, so they entrusted him to lead them as the king of Kedah. 

This kingdom is a Hindu kingdom however I couldnt find in any history book in regards to the faith of Maharaja Derbar Raja. In 630 CE, Gemeron is part of Sassanian Kingdom which Zoroastrian is the main religion.

Towards the end of 11th century, the 9th Kedah Hindu king, Dubar Raja II renounced Hinduism and conerted to Islam. He adpoted an Islamic name, Sultan Muzafar Shah and continued ruling Kedah from 1136 to 1179 CE. This sultanate continues to rule till today.

This mean the present Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Muzaffar Shah has a direct link back to not just the first Kedah Sultan, Sultan Muzaffar Shah (1136CE) but also to the first Hindu Sultan , Maharaja Derbar Raja ( 630CE). Try to imagine someone with unbroken family lineage since 630CE till now. Unbelievable!!

Weight :TBA gm

Dim : 15cm x 4cm

Rarity : RRR

Denom : 10 cincin = 10 cents, cockerel = 5 cents

Material : Tin

Reference : Saran's SS20 , pg 260

Ancient Artifact Review 105 : Antique Gold Embroidery Persian Wall Hanger with Kufi Calligraphy ( 19th Century)

This is a very large and long embroided wall hanger originated from Iran. Arabic prayer emroided in Kufi script across the panel. I will update further on the content of this calligraphy later.


Item : Embroided Kufi Wall Hanger
Date : 1900 CE 
Dim : 600mm x 1300mm
Design : Arabic Prayer or excerpts from Al Quran embroided in Kufi script

Ancient Manuscript Review 205 : Antique Malay jawi Handwritten Manuscript ( 18th Century)

This is a large manuscript without cover written in Malay language in Jawi. Acquired from Sarawak Borneo.

Manuscript Specs

Item : Antique Malay Islamic Jurisprudence

Manuscript Content : Islamic Jurisprudence

DIM : 35cm x 20cm

Date : 18th Century CE

Copyist : anonymous

Origin : South East Asia

Calligraphy : Malay -Naskh

Design : Written in Malay-Naskh scripts in black and red

Purchased Price : USD

Antique Coin Review 119 : Pohon Katun ( Hexagonal Tin Cash tree) - 16th Century of Johor Sultanate

This is a complete “tree” of coins from Johore Empire Era ( 16th-19th Century).
 Johor is located in the southern tip of Peninsular of Malaysia as well as the most southern point of the Asian Continent. The name of Johor originated from the Arabic word Jawhar which means jewel. It is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Takzim ( Abode of Dignity). The Sultanate of Johor was founded by Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II , the son of exiled last Sultan of Malacca ( Sultan Mahmud Shah) in 1528 CE. Johor was part of Malaccan Sultanate prior to Malacca occupation by Portuguese in 1511 CE.

This is a rare piece as I haven’t seen such a thing in Malaysian museums yet ( probably I haven’t explored enough).
Let me provide some insights of this “tree”. During the era of Johor Sultanate, tin coins or “Katuns” as they were known, were minted in a variety of shapes and sizes for use in the local markets. Some of these circular, others hexagonal or octagonal. A few of them carried full inscriptions indicating that they were intended for Johor, but the majority were inscribed only with the title such as “ Malik Al Adil” ( The Just King).

This tree was moulded by pouring molten tin though an opening in a mould which runs along a central channel into the side branches and finally into the coin moulds where the katun were cast. After the metal had cooled and hardened, the katuns were broken off and the excess metal of the central stem and brances was re smelted for further use.
Comparing this coins’ tree with my other katuns, I could match this katun with type C katun, hexagonal and class V as outlined in Saran Singh’s The Encyclopaedia of The Coins of Malaysia Singapore & Brunei, page 124 ( SS32A). The obverse has a large central dot surrounded by dots ( total 7 dots) whereas the reverse of this katun is blank.  It has hexagonal shape with plain edge and typical weight of 1.09 gm each. Diameter range from 16-17mm. Some of them look round in shape. Made of tin and RRRR if with the tree.
The other katun tree from the same empire has an S shape as if a kris whereas this one is straight like a tree. Check my other coin tree at
Johor Katun Tree Flower
Johor Katun Tree Kris

This piece is absolutely a priceless relic.

Coin Spec
Description Pohon katun with 15 katuns attached type C, hexagonal with 7 dots, SS32A
Weight : TBA
DIM : TBA
Rarity : RRRR
Ref : Saran's SS32A Pg 124

Ancient Artifact Review 104 : Antique Jewish Hebrew tiles from Mellah Jewish Quarter Fes Morocco ( 19th Century)

This is a rare ceramic tile from the Mellah ( Jewish Quarter) of Fes Morocco from 19th Century. The tile is decorated with floral and vegetal motives with some Hebrew alphabets in the middle row.
The inscription looks like  ברך  (Kaph , Resh , Beth ) pronounced as Barak means blessing.
Originally the word "barak"  used in Genesis 24:11 means " to kneel". However a derived word means "to show respect" or "to bless" is used in Genesis 12:2.


It is very common for Jewish who are settling in Mellah Fes to decorate their houses with tiles inscribed with blessings or word of wisdoms.
In a book, Pottery from Morocco 19th-20th c entury, by Rachel Hasson, "Fes was the most important centre for clay vessels in Morocco.... large quantities of tiles were produced in Fes and were used as an architectural decoration. Most items were decorated with paint and then glazed"

From an auction of similar tile which can be seen at the link below, 6 pieces of tiles were sold for USD4,841
Kedem Auction

Artifact Specs :

Item : Ceramic Tile
Content : Vegetal motives with Hebrew word Kaph, Resh, Beth ( Barak) glazed in turquoise
Dim : 10cm x 10cm x 2cm
Date : 19th Century CE
Purchased Price :
Reference : Pottery from Morocco 19th-20th Century, p.4

The Seventh International Society for Arabic Papyrology (ISAP) Conference - Berlin ( 20-23 March 2018)

In March 2018, I attended 4 days conference on Arabic Papyrology. It was held in Berlin in various museums & institutions.
It was an amazing conference with so many experts presenting their research especially on Arabic papyrus. In addition to that, we have the opportunity to access first hand papyrus collection in Berlin Papyrus Collection & the Manuscript Collection of the Berlin Staatsbibiotek.

Below are the conference program :

TUESDAY, 20 MARCH 2018

Venue: Bodemuseum, Gobelinsaal, Am Kupfergraben, 10117 Berlin

• Matt Malczycki (Auburn University/ISAP), Andreas Kaplony (LMU Munich/ISAP): Opening
• Julien Chapuis (Bodemuseum): Welcome
• Friederike Seyfried (Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung): Welcome

• Tomasz Barański (University of Warsaw): The Arabization of Lower-Rank Officials in Early Islamic Egypt: A Reconsideration of Two Bilingual Tax Receipts from the Heracleopolites/Ihnās
• Jelle Bruning (Leiden University): Organizing the War Fleet in Early-Islamic Egypt
• Lajos Berkes (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin): Greek as an Administrative Language in the 8th-century Caliphate
• 
  

15:00 - 17:00 Session 3: Workshop on Arabic Documents (Papyrus Collection), Workshop on Arabic Manuscripts (Staatsbibliothek), Visit of Bodemuseum, Visit of Neues Museum

WEDNESDAY, 21 MARCH 2018

Venue: Freie Universität Berlin, Holzlaube, Fabeckstraße 23-25, 14195 Berlin
9:00 – 12:00 Session 4: Omayyad Imperial Documents II (Chair: Andreas Kaplony)

• Beatrice Gruendler, Konrad Hirschler, Johannes Niehoff-Panagiotidis, Tonio Sebastian Richter (Freie Universität Berlin): Welcome
• Nils Purwins (Freie Universität Berlin): The Noble Ones of Ērānšahr: About wuzurgān, āzādāz, dahīgān, šahrīgān
• Said Reza Huseini (Leiden University): Thinking in Arabic, Writing in Sogdian: Diplomatic Relations Between the Arabs and the Local Rulers in Transoxiana in the Early Eighth Century
• Esther Garel (IFAO Cairo): People of Edfu: Some Considerations on Onomastics and Prosopography in the Papyri from the Early Arab Period
• Vincent Walter (Leipzig University): "For you know about my life and the prison I am in": The Late Coptic Paitos Dossier
• Petra Sijpesteijn (Leiden University): "After God, I turn to you." Religious Expressions in Arabic Papyrus Letters
  
• 
  

12:00 - 13:00 Session 5: Hands-On Discussion of Documents, Archives and Collections (Poster Session)

• Ahmed Nabil Maghraby (Sadat City University): Fragment of a Lost Hadith Collection of al-Muʾtamar ibn Sulaymān al-Taymī Preserved on Paper
• Alon Dar (Leiden University): Power or Persuasion: Qurra b. Sharīk's Letters
• Ahmed Kamal Mamdouh (Cairo University): Two Unpublished Personal Letters from al-Ashmūnain
• Tamer Mokhtar Mohamed (Helwan University): Four Arabic Inscriptions on Wooden Panels
• Lahcen Daaïf (Université Lumière Lyon 2): The Archive of a Christian Wealthy Family from Ṭuṭūn
• Andreas Kaplony, Daniel Potthast, Johannes Thomann, Sebastian Metz, Angélique Kleiner, Rocio Daga Portillo, Leonora Sonego, Michail Hradek (LMU Munich): The Arabic Papyrology Database

15:00-18:00 Session 6: Literary Documents (Chair: Beatrice Gruendler)

• Mathieu Tillier (Université Paris IV-Sorbonne) / Naïm Vanthieghem (CNRS Paris): A Quranic Manuscript on Papyrus From the End of the 7th Century and the Beginning of the 8th Century in the Hamburg Staatsbibliothek
• Ursula Bsees (University of Vienna/University of Cambridge): Some from the Zabur, some from the Prophet: Religious Advice Collected as Seen in P.Vind.inv. A.P. 1854a+b
• Hazem Hussein Abbas Ali (Beni-Suef University): Reconstructing Dhū r-Rumma's Poem Through an Unpublished Document from the P.Cair.Arab. Collection
• Edmund Hayes (Leiden University): The Epistolary Imam: Comparing the Correspondence of the Shii Imam with Documentary Letters
• Samer Ben Brahim / Mahmoud Kozae / Rima Redwan (Freie Universität Berlin): Digital Approaches to a Mutable Textual Tradition: Kalīla wa-Dimna in Manuscripts from the 13th to 19th Centuries
  
• Yousry Elseadawy (Freie Universität Berlin): Scribes and Manuscripts: The Scribes of Arabic Manuscripts: A Historical and Codicological Approach
• Fred Donner (University of Chicago): The Earliest Extant Arabic Letter? Several Puzzles in Search of a Solution

• 
  

THURSDAY, 22 MARCH 2018

Venue: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Grimm-Zentrum, Auditorium, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 1-3, 10117 Berlin

9:00 – 12:00 Session 7: Economic Documents (Chair: Lajos Berkes)

• Lajos Berkes (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin): Welcome
• Cecilia Palombo (Princeton University): Power, Exaction, and Paternalism in the Enforcement of Taxation: The Egyptian Monastic Context, 2nd‒3rd Centuries
• Janneke de Jong (Leiden University): Who Did What in Eighth-Century Aphrodito? Some Observations on Tax Documents and Prosopography
• Saied el-Maghawry Mohamed (Sadat City University): Wheat Through Arabic Papyri in the World Wide Collections: Rare Unpublished Texts
• Matt Malczycki (Auburn University): Livestock Sales and Social History
• Mohamed N. Abdelrahman Gad (King Faisal University): An Unpublished Arabic Document from Mamluk Jerusalem: Ḥaram Šarīf no. 646
• Rocio Daga Portillo (LMU Munich): Writing in Arabic After the Christian Conquest: Toledo Documents Comparing Islamic and Christian Arabic Documents
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15:00-18:00 Session 8: Scribal Culture (Chair: Konrad Hirschler)

• Abdullah al-Hatlani (Leiden University): What’s in a Name? Names, Kunyas, and Nisbas in Islamic-Era Inscriptions from Arabia
• Eline Scheerlinck (Leiden University): "We will not require anything of you, except for...": Permits, Protection and Problem Solving in Early Islamic Egypt
• Eugenio Garosi (LMU Munich/University of Basel): An Early Islamic Validity Cause: P.Ness. 56 Revisited
• Maher A. Eissa (Fayoum University): More Late Coptic Texts from the National Archive of Egypt
• Daisy Livingston (SOAS London): Late-Mamlūk Archival Practices on Ice: The View from Sultan al-Ghawrī's Waqf Archive
• Tarek M. Muhammad / Noha A. Salem (Ain Shams University, Cairo), Tārīkh Mulūk al-Qusṭanṭīniyya (The History of the Kings of Constantinople): An Attempt to Know its Author and Sources
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FRIDAY, MARCH 23RD, 2018

Venue: Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Einsteinsaal, Jägerstrasse 22/23, 10117 Berlin

9:00-12:00 Session 9: Sciences and Wrap-Up (Chair: Michael Marx)

• Michael Marx (Berlin-Brandenburg Academy): Welcome
• Gideon Bohak (Tel Aviv University): Arabic Manuals of Twitch Divination from the Cairo Genizah and from Qusayr
• Johannes Thomann (University of Zurich): Scientific Texts-Books and their Application in Practice: Interdependencies of Literary and Documentary Evidence of Scientific Activities
• Wrap-up
• ISAP General Meeting

This conference really enriched with some knowledge of Arabic papyrus. In addition to that I get to enlarge my network with experts in Papyrology. I was blessed to have met some prominent figures during this conference. To name fews :

Dr. Petra Sijpesteijn

Dr. Andreas Kaplony

Dr. Fred Donner

Dr. Beatrice Gruendler