Revisiting Qusayr Amra: A New Perspective on Female Imagery

Female representations at Qusayr Amra reflect a deliberate adaptation of pre-Islamic artistic traditions, challenging assumptions about modesty and figural representation in 8th-century Umayyad palaces. This study reveals that these depictions were not merely decorative but carried complex social meanings related to beauty, gender, and hierarchy, influenced by contemporary ideas and texts like the Qur’an. By comparing visual imagery with written sources and analyzing a key fresco, researchers demonstrate how Patron Walid II's patronage enabled a bold engagement with Islamic visual culture, offering new insights into early Islamic artistic expression and its negotiation of social values.

Kol, I. (2025). Revisiting Qusayr Amra: A New Perspective on Female Imagery. Religions, 16(9), 1168. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16091168