(slide 15) In addition to commissioning grand buildings, leaders in Andalusia also supported the production of luxury arts as a way to reflect their power and wealth. This same strategy was sometimes used by court ministers seeking to enhance their own power. After the death of the Caliph al-Hakam in 976 AD, one of his ministers, al-Mansur sought to take over power. Mansur's sons continued this struggle after his death. Commissioning luxury arts was a way to try to show the local residents of Cordoba that their claims to power were legitimate. In slide 15, we see a detail from the Pamplona Casket, which was commissioned by the son of al-Mansur. It is made of ivory, which was precious and rare during the Middle Ages. The fact that the casket is quite large makes it a significant object, indicating the wealth of al-Mansur and his sons. During this period, court life in Andalusia was quite lively. One form of court gathering was called the majlis, or literary gathering. A majlis was an intimate evening party at which wine was drunk and poetry was recited. Much of the poetry from this time period was written for such occasions. Slide 15 shows images of such gatherings carved onto the Pamplona Casket. We see the image of an older man, seated on a low platform, who is flanked by young boys who serve him. Studying the images carved onto the luxury objects can help us better understand the lifestyle of the courts in Andalusia. Back to slides