A SMALL AYYUBID ENGRAVED BRASS DIVINATION CUP
Possibly Damascus or Aleppo, Ayyubid Syria, 13th century

Of hemispherical shape, with a convex profile, rising to a reinforced, circular rim, the interior engraved with several geomantic and divination devices including auspicious naskh inscriptions in Arabic, square and diamond-shaped numerical charts, six-pointed stars, and figures like an emaciated dog, a snake, a scorpion and a pair of stylised regardant dragons with their tails interlinked and forming an infinite knot motif, the exterior with a continuous epigraphic band running below the rim and concentric circles in the centre, 11.1cm diam.

An almost identical brass 'magic' bowl can be seen at the David Collection in Copenhagen, Denmark (inv. no. 36/1995). Given the small size, light weight, and handy shape, it is likely that these vessels were actually used as drinking cups, hand-held in specific divination and purification rites. As part of them, water must have been poured into these vessels, prayers recited, and it was believed that by getting in contact with these magical symbols and auspicious inscriptions, the liquid element would absorb healing and apotropaic qualities, which would then enter the body of the drinker.