Name of Object:

Funerary stele

Location:

Algiers, Algeria

Holding Museum:

National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts

About National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts, Algiers

Date of Object:

Hegira 925–1245 / AD 1519–1830

Museum Inventory Number:

II.S.161

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Sculpted marble.

Dimensions:

Height 70 cm, width 10 cm, depth 9cm

Period / Dynasty:

Ottoman

Description:

Funerary stele in the form of a square-section column surmounted by a turban consisting of three folds and a badge that mentions the rank of the deceased. Two of its sides are sculpted with two inscriptions in cursive lettering executed in relief, set out in six lines, separated by lines of the Shahada: 'There is no divinity other than God, Muhammad is the messenger of God'; in contrast, the lateral sides are ornamented with a floral decoration.
It should be noted that the turban that is placed on top of the column indicates that the deceased occupied a distinguished position in society.
The stelae that feature professions of faith were placed on the tomb over the head of the deceased; those featuring the name and date of death were placed over the feet.

Marble funerary stele in the form of an octagonal-section column crowned with a three-roll turban. Two sides bear inscriptions in engraved cursive characters, including the Shahada, the Muslim profession of faith, within six cartouches.

How date and origin were established:

This type of turban stele was generally used in Algiers during the Ottoman era.

Selected bibliography:

Institut du Monde Arabe, L'Algérie en héritage, art et histoire, catalogue, Paris, 2003.

Citation of this web page:

Leila Merabet "Funerary stele" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;dz;Mus01;49;en

Prepared by: Leila MerabetLeila Merabet

Titulaire d'un magister en archéologie islamique (spécialité épigraphie arabe), conservateur du patrimoine archéologique et historique, Leila Merabet est chef du service Conservation et Valorisation (section islamique) au Musée national des antiquités. Elle a publié de nombreux articles dans les Annales du Musée national des antiquités.
Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: Maria Vlotides
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen

MWNF Working Number: AL 91