Ancient Coins
The Artuqid state
The Artuqid state, named after Artuq ibn Aksab, from whom the Artuqid dynasty (also known as the Artuqids or Banu Artuq) originated, ruled southeastern Anatolia (Diyarbakir and Mardin) and northern Mesopotamia between 1098 and 1232 CE (some branches continued until 1408 CE). Following the Seljuk victory at the Battle of Manzikert, the Artuqids migrated to Anatolia along with other Turkic tribes. The dynasty's founder…
April 9, 2020Marrakech Through the Ages
Marrakech, also known as the Red City and the City of Palms, is the third largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco in terms of population density and is located in the south-central region. The city was founded in 1062 CE by Yusuf ibn Tashfin, after whom its most famous school, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, is named, to serve as the capital of the Almoravid dynasty. The name Marrakech was historically used to refer to Morocco itself, ever since Marrakech was the capital of the Almoravids…
April 8, 2020Fatimid Railway to Palestine
In the year 357 AH, Abu al-Misk Kafur al-Ikhshidi died, an event that would change the region. The Fatimids had been eagerly awaiting this news because Kafur was a powerful ruler, a shrewd politician, a clever military leader, and a prince beloved by both the people and the military commanders. This led al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah to declare, "We will not enter Egypt while the Black Stone is there," and he assumed power…
March 31, 2020Himyarite Kingdom
An ancient Yemeni kingdom that arose in Zafar Yarim, it succeeded in conquering the four ancient Yemeni kingdoms and uniting them and their tribes into a single kingdom that ruled between 110 BC and 525-527 AD. It was the last Yemeni kingdom before Islam and had close ties with the Kingdom of Kinda through an alliance dating back to the 2nd century BC. The Himyarites were originally Sabaean tribes who embraced the religion…
March 28, 2020Abu Bakr and Kajak
Al-Mansur Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr and Al-Ashraf Ala al-Din Kujuk were the first two sultans from the sons of Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun to rule Egypt and Syria, but their reigns were very short, as the real power was wielded by Prince Qusun al-Nasiri. Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun had designated Abu Bakr as his successor, and Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr was a handsome young man…
March 4, 2020The Maqasis…the strange thing about the currency circulating in Egypt
What do you know about the "maqasis" (a type of coin)? And when did it appear in Egypt? "Play with the maqasis until the diwani (a type of coin) comes to you" (1). Perhaps some have heard this authentic Egyptian proverb before without realizing that behind it lies a fascinating and strange story about the history of money circulation in Egypt at a certain period. Egypt experienced a decline in the weight of…
March 13, 2016