The House of God and the Tomb of the Prophet

Known as the Haramayn, the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina were centers of knowledge and image production for the Ottoman Empire as well as crucial nodes for the movement of people and objects. Ottoman images of these two cities and of their most sacred monuments captured shared histories and experiences, described pilgrimage rites to future travelers, indicated the direction of prayer toward Mecca, guided those who prayed for divine aid, and more.

The House of God and the Tomb of the Prophet explores the many representations of the Haramayn produced in and circulated across Ottoman lands from the sixteenth to the early twentieth century. Author Sabiha Göloğlu examines an extensive variety of media and artifacts, from the visual (paintings, prints, and photographs) to the material (ceramics, prayer rugs, and qibla compasses) and the textual (Qur'anic verses, invocations, and poems in Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Turkish)—all while highlighting their setting, production, function, and circulation. She also explores how these images were mobilized across different regions, periods, and media, enabling virtual pilgrimages, innovative drawing techniques, and multisensory engagement.

With more than 150 color photographs paired with multifaceted examinations of Haramayn depictions, The House of God and the Tomb of the Prophet uncovers how and why Ottoman Muslims created, contemplated, and carried images of Mecca and Medina with them throughout the empire.