Calligraphic Roundel, inscribed "Ya 'Aziz" (Oh Mighty)

Unknown

late 16th–early 17th century · Sandstone; carved, traces of pigment · Islamic Art

Decorative roundels are found in the spandrels of arches on many buildings in the Deccan, but those with calligraphic decoration only appear in mosques and tombs. The inscription on this roundel reads "Ya 'Aziz" (O Mighty), one of the ninety-nine names of God in the Islamic tradition. Each phrase is first written vertically and then in mirror image to form a decorative unit that is repeated eight times around the roundel.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 16th–early 17th century

Medium

Sandstone; carved, traces of pigment

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Edward Pearce Casey Fund, 1985