Epitaph from Medieval Egypt

3D Image

by Geoffrey Marchal
published on 26 August 2020

A 9th Century CE epitaph commemorating a woman named Fatima, the daughter of Qasim, son of al-Husayn. The text is engraved in high relief in Arabic Kufic script.

It reads: "1. In the name of God the Most Merciful, the Merciful. 2. Praise be to God, satisfaction of God’s judgment, 3.submission to God’s order, belief 4. in the decree of God and sacrifice in the way of God. 5. This is Umm al-Hasan’s profession of faith, 6. Fatima, daughter of Qasim, son of al-Husayn. 7. She never ceased to recognize in God the uniqueness and 8. Supreme power until God takes her to Himself. 9. O God! Have mercy on her, forgive her [her sins] 10. and grant him in exchange for [his life] here below the gardens 11. Delight in Your mercy, O most Merciful of the merciful!" (Dr. F. Bauden translation)

Aswan (Egypt), 9th Century CE. Marble. Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (Musée du Cinquantenaire, Brussels, Belgium). Made using 200 photos with Zephyr3D Lite from 3DFlow.