This Muslim prayer carpet shares striking visual similarities to a Jewish carpet meant to cover the Torah ark.
Carpet with Triple-Arch Design, c. 1575–90, silk (warp and weft), wool (pile), cotton (pile), attributed to Turkey, possibly Istanbul, 172.7 x 127 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York). Speakers: Dr. Ariel Fein and Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank
Additional resources
The Ottoman prayer carpet at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Torah Ark Curtain at the Jewish Museum
Sumru Belger Krody, “Prayer Carpets,” Khamseen Islamic Art History Online, 11 May 2021.
Smarthistory images for teaching and learning:
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