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Primary sourceArtifact10th century

Safa in Madinat al-Zahra Style

10th century

A tenth-century ceramic bowl in the style of Madinat al-Zahra, found near Valencia, reflecting the artistic reach of Abd-ar-Rahman III's caliphate.

This bowl, found near Valencia, shows the spread of artistic styles from Abd-ar-Rahman III's palace-city of Madinat al-Zahra.

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Photo of a shallow ceramic bowl on a metal stand, with a pale pinkish glaze and a green and dark painted animal figure with spotted body and long legs, plus a scalloped border around the rim.
Safa in Madinat al-Zahra style, found near Valencia, 10th century. Museum of Ceramics of Valencia.

About this source

What it is

This is a shallow ceramic bowl decorated with a painted animal figure and scalloped border, made in the style associated with Madinat al-Zahra. It dates to the tenth century and was found in the area of Valencia. It is now held at the Museum of Ceramics of Valencia.

Why it matters

Madinat al-Zahra was the palace-city built under Abd-ar-Rahman III, and its artistic style spread across the regions of al-Andalus. This bowl shows how the ceramic traditions of his caliphal court influenced pottery production far beyond Córdoba itself.

Look closer

  • What animal or figure can you identify in the painted design?
  • Why might the style of a capital city's court spread to other regions?
  • What does this bowl's location, far from Córdoba, suggest about trade or influence?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Abd al-Rahman III on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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