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Course: The British Museum > Unit 5
Lesson 2: Islamic Middle EastThe Mahmal
This magnificent mahmal which would have travelled on top of a camel on the route to Mecca. © Trustees of the British Museum. Created by British Museum.
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So if the Mahmal isn't designed to carry anyone (if I heard that correctly), then why does it appear to have an opening of a tent as if a person would have hopped on in and ridden on top of the Camel?(3 votes)
Where is the mahmal today?(1 vote)
Video transcript
this is the absolute star object of the exhibition it's called a mammal and traditionally this was taken along with the camel caravan on Hajj on the way to Mecca it was made in probably about the 1860s or 1870s and it was made to be carried on top of a camel so you can imagine as the as the caravan went off across the desert there was this amazing bright red silk object just as acting as a beacon for all of those pilgrims following behind what actually gives it the weight is the embroidery very very thick embroidery in silver and gold thread absolutely all over it the mammal was was empty and what it symbolized was the power of the sort on and the ruling Sultan of of Egypt and later the the Ottomans they were in control of the holy places of Mecca and Medina and so the sending of the mammal symbolized their overlordship over these holy places you