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Funerary stele
- Accession Number:AKM662
- Place:Egypt or North Africa
- Dimensions:59.7 cm
- Date:987
- Materials and Technique:Carved marble
Marble spolia from the remains of Pre-Islamic Classical buildings were widely reused throughout history, especially in places where marble was rare or quarries were no longer productive. Here, a Roman panel with a deeply carved acanthus scroll formed the back of a funerary stele dating to December 986. This cultural adaptation of architectural elements was common under Muslims in North Africa. Indeed, the Mosque of ‘Amr, first established in Fustat (present-day Cairo) in 642, has a plethora of repurposed marble columns.
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