Smarthistory: Pyxis of al-Mughira

Pyxis GUIDING QUESTIONS

• What was the function of a pyxis?

• WHO was this pyxis gifted to?

• What is a caliph? (look it up, credible resource!)

• What is / where is Al-Andalus?

• How long did Muslims control Al-Andalus? (Range of years and total years)

• What is this pyxis made out of? Why was this material used heavily in this area of the world (and had been since the late Roman empire)?

• What type of people usually were gifted objects like this (who were they made for)?

• What does ANICONIC mean?

• Is this object ANICONIC?

• What iconography does this pysxis feature that has led some scholars to believe it expresses POLITICAL AUTHORITY / LEGITIMACY?