Mechanical devices exemplify the connections between artistic production, technical studies, and imperial ambitions in late antique and medieval Middle Eastern societies. These devices, commonly referred to as automata, were widespread in courts, taking on various forms such as talking statues, mechanical animals, and automatic musical instruments. By examining a diverse range of literary, iconographic, and material sources, this paper explores the development of mechanics and mechanical art in the late antique and medieval Middle East. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significant role that ingenious devices played in court society, acting as instruments for representing and disseminating political ideology.
Dr. Alessia Zubani is Newton International Fellow at the University of Oxford.