Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif

Department of History of Art and Archaeology, School of Arts

Emeritus Professor

SOAS Middle East Institute (SMEI)

Member

Art of the Crusades: A Re-Evaluation

Academic Advisory Board

Name:: Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif
Email address:: da30@soas.ac.uk
Curriculum Vitae:: Doris Behrens-Abouseif CV (pdf; 26kb)

Biography

From 2000-2014: Nasser D Khalili Chair of Islamic Art and Archaeology at SOAS,
Member of the Academia Europaea.
Her list of publications covers a wide range of subjects from the early period to the 19th century with focus on Egypt and Syria: The history of Islamic architecture and decorative arts, urbanism, waqf (pious endowments), Islamic cultural history, concepts of aesthetics and Orientalism. She is currently working on a book about Mamluk libraries, scribes and book markets.

Among her books:
- Egypt’s Adjustment to Ottoman Rule, Leiden/ New York/Köln 1994
- Beauty in Arabic Culture, Princeton 1999.
- Cairo of the Mamluks, London/Cairo 2007
- The Minarets of Cairo, London/Cairo 2010
- Practicing Diplomacy in the Mamluk Sultanate:Gifts and Material Culture in the Medieval Islamic World, London 2014

Authored Books

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2014) Practising Diplomacy in the Mamluk Sultanate: Gifts and Material Culture in the Medieval Islamic World. London: I.B. Tauris.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2010) The minarets of Cairo: Islamic architecture from the Arab conquest to the end of the Ottoman Empire. London; New York: I.B. Tauris.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2007) Cairo of the Mamluks. A History of Architecture and Its Culture. London: I.B. Tauris.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1999) Beauty in Arabic Culture. Princeton, NJ: Markus Wiener.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1998) Schönheit in der arabischen Kultur. München: Beck.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1995) Mamluk and post-Mamluk metal lamps. Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1994) Egypt's adjustment to Ottoman rule: institutions, waqf and architecture in Cairo, 16th and 17th centuries. Leiden ; New York: Brill.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1989) Islamic architecture in Cairo: an introduction. Leiden ; New York: Brill.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1987) Fathallah and Abu Zakariya: Physicians under the Mamluks. Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1985) Azbakiyya and its environs : from Azbak to Ismāʻīl, 1476-1879. Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1985) The minarets of Cairo. Cairo, Egypt: American University in Cairo Press.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1972) Die Kopten in der ägyptischen Gesellschaft. Frieburg im Breisgau: K. Schwarz.

Articles

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2011) 'The Complex of Sultan Mahmud I in Cairo'. Muqarnas, (28), pp 196-219.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2011) 'Craftsmen, Upstarts and Sufis in the late Mamluk period'. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, (74) 3, pp 375-395.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2010) 'Between Istanbul and Cairo: Louis Francois Cassas and the Panoramic Perspective'. Archaeology and Travelers in Ottoman Lands.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2009) 'The Jalayirid Connection in Mamluk Metalwork'. Muqarnas, (26), pp 149-160.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2006) 'The Islamic History of the Lighthouse of Alexandria'. Muqarnas. An Annual on the Visual Culture of the Islamic World., (23), pp 1-14.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2005) 'Veneto-Saracenic Metalware, a Mamluk Art'. Mamluk Studies Review, (9) 2, pp 147-172.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2004) 'The Fire of 884/1479 at the Umayyad Mosque of Damascus and an Account of Its Restoration'. Mamluk Studies Review, (8) 1, pp 279-97.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2002) 'Sultan al-Ghawri and the Arts'. Mamluk Studies Review, (6), pp 69-75.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1999) 'Qaytbay’s Madrasahs in the Holy Cities and the Evolution of Haram Architecture'. Mamluk Studies Review, (3), pp 129-149.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1998) 'Sultan Qaytbay's Foundation in Medina: the Madrasah, the Ribat and the Dashishah'. Mamluk Studies Review, (2), pp 61-71.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1998) 'Qaytbay’s Investments in the City of Cairo: Waqf and Power'. Annales Islamologiques, (32), pp 29-40.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1996) 'The Mahmal Legend and the Pilgrimage of Ladies of the Mamluk Court'. Mamluk Studies Review, (1), pp 87-96.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1995) 'Muhandis, Shadd, Mu´allim - Note on the Building Craft in the Mamluk Period'. Der Islam, (72) 2, pp 293-309.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1995) 'A Late Mamluk [?] Basin with Zodiac Imagery'. Annales Islamologiques, (29), pp 1-21.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1993) 'Cadaster Registers in Medieval Egypt'. Environmental design: journal of the Islamic Environmental Design Research Centre., (11), pp 92-95.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1992) 'The ´Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda Style in 18th Century Cairo'. Annales Islamologiques, (26), pp 117-126.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1992) 'The Façade of the Aqmar-Mosque in the Context of Fatimid Ceremonial'. Muqarnas, (9), pp 29-38.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1992) 'The Takiyyat Ibrahim al-Kulshani in Cairo'. Muqarnas, (5), pp 43-60.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1992) 'Gardens in Islamic Egypt'. Der Islam, (69) 2, pp 302-312.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1989) 'The Baptistère de St.Louis—A Reinterpretation'. Islamic Art, (3), pp 3-13.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1989) 'The Image of the Physician in Arab Biographies of the post-classical Age'. Der Islam, (66), pp 331-343.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1988) 'The Citadel of Cairo: Stage for Mamluk Ceremonial'. Annales Islamologiques, (24), pp 25-79.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1986) 'Locations of non-Muslim Quarters in Medieval Cairo'. Annales Islamologiques, (22), pp 117-132.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1985) 'Change in Function and Form of Mamluk Religious Institutions'. Annales Islamologiques, (21), pp 73-93.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris and Femandes, L. (1984) 'Sufi Architecture in Early Ottoman Cairo'. Annales Islamologiques, (20), pp 103-114.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1983) 'The Qubba, an Aristocratic Type of zawiya'. Annales Islamologiques, (19), pp 1-7.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1983) 'The Lost Minaret of Shajarat ad-Durr at Her Complex in the Cemetery of Sayyida Nafisa'. Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, (39), pp 1-16.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1982) 'An Unlisted Monument of the Fifteenth Century: The Dome of Zawiyat al-Damirdash'. Annales Islamologiques, (18), pp 105-121.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1981) 'The Northeastern Extension of Cairo under the Mamluks'. Annales Islamologiques, (17), pp 157-189.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1978) 'Circassian Mamluk suburb in the Northeast of Cairo'. AARP (Art and Archeology Research Paper), (14), pp 17-23.

Edited Books or Journals

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris, (ed.), (2012) The Arts of the Mamluks in Egypt and Syria: Evolution and Impact. Göttingen: Bonn University Press. (Mamluk Studies; 1).

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris and Vernoit, S., (eds.), (2006) Islamic Art in the 19th century- Tradition, Innovation, Eclecticism. Leiden: Brill. (Islamic History and Civilization, Volume: 60).

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris and Contadini, Anna, (eds.), (2004) Essays in Honor of J. M. Rogers. Leiden: Brill. (Muqarnas).

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris, (ed.), (2000) The Cairo Heritage: essays in honor of Laila Ali Ibrahim. Cairo; New York: The American University in Cairo Press.

Book Chapters

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2014) 'Between Quarry and Magic: The Selective Approach to Spolia in the Islamic Monuments of Egypt'. In: Payne, Alina, (ed.), Dalmatia and the Mediterranean. Portable Archaeology and the Poetics of Influence. Boston; Leiden: Brill, pp 402-425.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2012) 'Mamluk Perceptions of foreign Arts'. In: Behrens-Abouseif, Doris, (ed.), The Arts of the Mamluks in Egypt and Syria Evolution and Impact. Göttingen: Bonn University Press.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2012) 'Die Urbanisierung der Moschee als Ausdruck der Metropolität Kairos'. In: Oberste, Jörg, (ed.), Metropolität in der Vormoderne. Konstruktionen urbaner Zentralität im Wandel. Regensburg: Verlag Schnell & Steiner.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2012) 'A bronze tambourine-player'. In: Porter, Venetia and Ross-Owen, Mariam, (eds.), Metalwork and Material Culture in the Islamic World. Art, Craft and Text. London: I.B.Tauris.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2012) 'The Ottoman Conquest of Egypt and the Arts'. In: Michel, Nicola and Lellouch, Benjamin, (eds.), Conquête ottomane de l'Égypte (1517). Arrière-plan, impact, échos. Leiden: Brill, pp 303-326.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2010) 'A Late Mamluk Lidded Tray with Poetic Inscription'. In: Jürgen Wasim, Frembgen, (ed.), The Aura of Alif. The Art of Writing in Islam. Munich: Prestel.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2009) 'The Waqf: A legal personality?'. In: Meier, Astrid and Pahlitzsch, Johannes and Reinfandt, Lucian, (eds.), Gottes Eigentum für alle Zeiten? Islamische Stiftungen von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2009) 'Views of Egypt and Turkey by the Hungarian Arts Lajos (Ludwig) Libay'. In: Dávid, Géza and Gerelyes, Ibolya, (eds.), Thirteenth International Congress of Turkish Art. Proceedings. Budapest: Hungarian National Museum, pp 103-112.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2008) 'Multifunction and Diversity in the Medieval Mosque: The case of Cairo'. In: Rau, Susanne and Schwerhoff, Gerd, (eds.), Topographien des Sakralen. Religion und Raumordnung in der Vormoderne. Berlin: Dölling und Galitz Verlag, pp 104-115.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2008) 'The Mamluk City'. In: Jayyusi, Salma K. and Holod, Renate and Petruccioli, Antillio and Raymond, André, (eds.), The City in the Islamic World,. Leiden; Boston: Brill, pp 295-316.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2008) 'Multifunction and Diversity in the Medieval Mosque: The case of Cairo'. In: Rau, Susanne and Schwerhoff, Gerd, (eds.), Topographien des Sakralen : Religion und Raumordnung in der Vormoderne. Hamburg: Dölling und Galitz, pp 104-115.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2007) 'Beyond the secular and the sacred: Qur'anic inscriptions in medieval Islamic art and material culture'. In: Suleman, Fahmida, (ed.), Word of God, Art of Man: The Qur'an and its Creative Expressions. Selected Proceedings from the International Colloquium, London, 18-21 October 2003. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp 41-49.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2007) 'Architectural Style and Identity in Egypt'. In: Sofaer, Joanna, (ed.), Material Identities. London: Blackwell Publishing, pp 67-81.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2006) 'A Late Mamluk Oil Lamp in the National Museum of Budapest'. In: Baker, Patricia L. and Brend, Barbara, (eds.), Sifting sands, reading signs : studies in honour of Professor Géza Fehérvárí. London: Furnace Publishing, pp 155-160.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2006) 'The Visual Transformation of Egypt during the Reign of Muhammad Ali'. In: Behrens-Abouseif, Doris and Vernoit, S., (eds.), Islamic Art in the 19th century. Tradition, Innovation, Eclecticism. Leiden; Boston: E.J. Brill, pp 109-130.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2005) 'From Sárospatak to Cairo: the Odyssey of a Design'. In: Gerelyes, Ibolya, (ed.), Turkish Flowers. Studies on Ottoman Art in Hungary. Budapest: Hungarian National Museum, pp 51-54.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2004) 'Islamic Art (1300-1500) Between Rupture and Continuity'. In: Abulafia, D., (ed.), Mediterraneum: splendour of the medieval Mediterranean, 13th-15th centuries. Barcelona: Lunwerg Editores, pp 85-105.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2004) 'European Arts and Crafts at the Mamluk Court'. In: Behrens-Abouseif, Doris and Contadini, Anna, (eds.), Essays in Honor of J. M. Rogers. Leiden: Brill, pp 45-54.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2002) 'Topographie médiévale d’Alexandrie'. In: Décobert, Christian and Empereur, Jean-Yves, (eds.), Alexandrie médiévale II. Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale, pp 1-13.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2002) 'Trois Planches de Pascal Coste'. In: Panzac, Daniel and Raymond, André, (eds.), La France et l'Egypte à l'époque des vice-rois, 1805-1882. Cairo: Institut Francais d'Archeologie Orientale, pp 101-110.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2001) 'An Italian Architect in Cairo: A portrait of Vittorio Del Burgo'. In: Volait, M, (ed.), Le Caire, Alexandrie, architectures européennes. 1850-1950. Cairo: CEDEJ/IFAO, pp 193-202.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2001) 'Une Polémique Anti-Ottomane par un Artisan au Caire du XVIIe Siècle'. In: Marino, Brigitte, (ed.), Etudes sur les villes du Proche-Orient : XVIe-XIXe siècle : hommage à André Raymond. Damas: Institut français d'études arabes de Damas, pp 45-53.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2000) 'La conception de la ville dans la pensée arabe du Moyen-Âge'. In: Nicolet, C. and Ilbert, R. and Depaule, J.-C., (eds.), Mégapoles méditerranéennes: géographie urbaine rétrospective : actes du colloque organisé par l'Ecole française de Rome et la Maison méditerranéenne des sciences de l'homme, Rome, 8-11 mai 1996. Paris: Maison méditerranéenne des sciences de l'homme, pp 32-40.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris and Denoix, S. and Garcin, J.-C. (2000) 'Le Caire'. In: Jean-Claude, Garcin, (ed.), Grandes Villes méditerranéennes du monde musulman médiéval. Rome: Ecole Française de Rome, pp 177-203.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2000) 'Waqf as Remuneration and the Family Affairs of Al-Nasir Mohammad and Baktimur al-Saqi'. In: Behrens-Abouseif, Doris, (ed.), The Cairo heritage: essays in honor of Laila Ali Ibrahim. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, pp 55-68.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1998) 'Patterns of urban patronage in Cairo: a comparison between the Mamluk and the Ottoman periods'. In: Philipp, T. and Haarmann, U., (eds.), The Mamluks in Egyptian politics and society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp 224-234.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1998) 'Notes sur l'Architecture Musulmane d'Alexandrie'. In: Décobert, Christian and Empereur, Jean-Yves, (eds.), Alexandrie Médiévale 1. Cairo: IFAO, pp 101-114.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1997) 'An Industrial Complex in Ottoman Cairo: The Tanneries at Bab al-Luq'. In: Crecelius, D. and Badr, H. and Ismāʻīl, M., (eds.), Dirāsāt fī tārīkh Miṣr al-iqtiṣādī wa-al-ijtimāʻī fī al-ʻAṣr al-ʻUthmānī: aʻmāl al-Nadwah al-ʻIlmīyah allatī aqāmatʹhā Hayʼat Fūlbrāyit bi-al-Qāhirah fī al-fatrah min 6-8 Dīsimbir 1996 M. al-Qāhirah: Dār al-Āfāq al-ʻArabīyah, pp 1-8.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1997) 'The Lion-Gazelle Mosaic at Khirbat al-Mafjar'. In: Necipoğlu, Gülru, (ed.), Muqarnas XIV: an Annual on the Visual Culture of the Islamic World. Leiden: Brill, pp 11-18.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1995) 'Sicily, the Missing Link in the Evolution of Cairene Architecture'. In: Vermeulen, U. and De Smet, D., (eds.), Egypt and Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk eras. Leuven: Peeters, pp 275-301.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1995) 'The Waqf of a Cairene Notable in early Ottoman Cairo—Muhibb al-Din Abu al-Tayyib, Son of a Physician'. In: Deguilhem, Randi, (ed.), Le waqf dans l'espace islamique : outil de pouvoir socio-politique. Damas: Institut français de Damas, pp 123-132.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1995) 'Al-Nasir Muhammad and al-Ashraf Qaytbay—Patrons of Urbanism'. In: Vermeulen, U. and De Smet, D., (eds.), Egypt and Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk eras. Leuven: Peeters, pp 257-274.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1992) 'Le Acque del Cairo - Scenario e Stile di Vita di una Città Islamica'. In: Jones, Dalu, (ed.), Il Teatro delle Acque. Roma: Edizioni dell'Elefante, pp 31-41.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1990) 'Three Zawiyas in Early Ottoman Cairo'. In: Majda, Tadeusz, (ed.), Seventh International Congress of Turkish Art. Warsaw: Polish Scientific Publishers, pp 49-55.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1990) 'Note sur la Fonction de la Cour dans la Maison Moyenne du Caire Ottoman'. L'Habitat traditionnel dans les pays musulmans autour de la Méditerranée: rencontre d'Aix-en-Provence, 6-8 juin 1984. Tome II. L'histoire et le milieu. Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale, pp 411-418.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1982) 'Quelques Traits de l’Habitation Traditionnelle dans la Ville du Caire'. In: Bouhdiba, A. and Chevallier, D., (eds.), La Ville arabe dans l'Islam : histoire et mutations. Tunis: Impr. Al Asria, pp 447-459.

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (1982) 'The Political Situation of the Copts, 1798-1923'. In: Braude, Benjamin and Lewis, Bernard, (eds.), Book Title: Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire. volume 2. New York: Homes & Meier Publishers, pp 185-205.

Conference Items

Behrens-Abouseif, Doris (2001) 'The Family mausoleum of Muhammad Ali: Hawsh al-Basha' In: The International Symposium of Ottoman Heritage in the Middle East, 2001, Hatay/Ankara.