9 Rosette - Specific Details

[Mark Knowles]

I also noticed something rather important. Even if they were illustrating something from an exotic place or a different culture, they OFTEN drew it in terms of their own culture. For example, sometimes Africans were drawn as black, but not always, and the King of India would sometimes be drawn like a white guy (like a Northern European) with a long beard. The only "Indian" thing about him was his turban. The same with architecture. Sometimes they drew eastern domes, but often they drew European castles to represent eastern places.

Like swallowtail merlons in Cairo: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..

That image is quite curious as it also shows a shield with a black eagle on it, which was often associated with the Holy Roman Emperor, although the Holy Roman Empire was far from Egypt and I assume had no involvement there. I don't know what the symbol on the other shield represents.

Having looked more closely at the text accompanying the drawing I wonder if the description is correct about it referring to al fustat in Cairo as it appears to say "al fructex(c?). My knowledge of latin is poor, so I wonder if someone wants to check that as I have noticed mistakes made before with labeling manuscript pages. It mentions "arabice", so that would fit.

It could well be correct, but I would be curious to see if someone can verify it as the whole page is rather odd then.

Also another thing which is odd is that the armour the two soldiers are wearing looks very European not Islamic.