A religious legend inspired by the narrative of the "Life of Buddha" was well known in the Judaeo-Persian tradition and early versions in Persian, Arabic, Hebrew, Armenian, and Georgian have been discovered.
The British Library
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest living world-religions. Professor Almut Hintze explores its history and some of the key components of the religion: its beliefs, sacred texts and rituals.
An introduction to Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest living world-religions. Professor Almut Hintze explores its history and some of the key components of the religion: its beliefs, sacred texts and rituals.
An introduction to Zoroastrianism
This stencil (or pounce) is one of very few to survive, and is the largest and most impressive of those found at Mogao.
Stencil for a five-figure Buddha group
There are many kinds of Buddhist meditations; here Dr Sarah Shaw describes the ‘middle way’ of the Buddha and explores key aspects of Buddhist meditation and chant, such as the use of Buddha-images and visualization.
Buddhist meditation and chant
Professor Julius Lipner explains that Hinduism cannot be considered polytheistic and discusses the way in which Hindu culture and sacred texts conceptualize the deities, as well as their role in devotional faith
Hindu deities
![Ornate frontispiece of a 10th-century Qur'an, probably from Egypt, with arabesque decoration in gold and overlapping chain-patterns in white. CORANUS, literis Cuficis. Codex membranaceus, sec. fortassis xi. In Quarto minori. [l3,735.], 900–100 (British Library)](https://smarthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10th-century-Quran-add_ms_11735-f001v-2r-rotated-1-570x350.jpeg)
Since Islam prohibits the representation of the human or animal form in religious contexts, Islamic art finds its ultimate spiritual expression in beautiful calligraphy and illumination of the sacred script.
Illumination of the Qur’an
Hajj is the most well-known pilgrimage in Islam. Here Dr Sophia Arjana discusses its role in the religion, whilst also looking at Shi‘a and regional pilgrimages, sainthood and sacred space in Islam.
Islamic pilgrimages and sacred spaces
The East India Company produced thousands of views that helped to consolidate its authority over much of South Asia in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Recording and representing India: the East India ...
The classical past continued to shape and influence readers throughout the Middle Ages.
The classical past
Through the evidence of manuscript production we can trace the history of Normandy and the region’s close ties with England before and after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Manuscript production in the abbeys of Normandy
The idea of place in the early Middle Ages transcended space and time.
Mapping the world
Dr. Ilana Tahan explores the illumination of Jewish biblical manuscripts, looking at the religious grounds for artistic expression in the Bible, and the differences in styles between manuscripts produced in the Near East and those in Europe
Illumination of Jewish biblical texts
Dr. Kathleen Doyle introduces the characteristics and evolution of medieval biblical illumination, discussing the various functions of images in biblical texts, together with the use of different materials, calligraphic embellishments and stylistic influences.
Biblical illumination
Hajj is the most well-known pilgrimage in Islam. Here Dr Sophia Arjana discusses its role in the religion, whilst also looking at Shi‘a and regional pilgrimages, sainthood and sacred space in Islam.
Islamic pilgrimages and sacred spaces
Eleanor Nesbitt explores Sikh gurdwaras ('doorway to the Guru'), touching on the most notable ones, such as the Golden Temple, their common features, and the principles of worship within them.
Sikh sacred places
The Guru Granth Sahib plays an integral part in the lives of Sikhs. Eleanor Nesbitt describes the rituals that surround it and its role in the daily lives and life cycle rites of Sikhs, also exploring Sikh daily prayer, devotional songs, and festivals.
Sikh prayer and worship
Gurus are central to the Sikh faith. Eleanor Nesbitt looks at the founder of the Sikh faith – Guru Nanak, the concept of Guru in Sikhism, the central principles of the Gurus’ teachings and the sacred scripture – the Guru Granth Sahib.
Origins and development of Sikh faith: The ...
Books of Hours were a popular feature of medieval Christianity in Europe. Dr Eleanor Jackson introduces their common features, uses and purposes, explaining features such as the Instruments of Christ’s Passion and the medieval veneration of saints.
Medieval prayer-books
There are many kinds of Buddhist meditations; here Dr Sarah Shaw describes the ‘middle way’ of the Buddha and explores key aspects of Buddhist meditation and chant, such as the use of Buddha-images and visualization.
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