The Importance of Imported Aromatics in Arabic Culture: Illustrations from Pre‐Islamic and Early Islamic Poetry

• Published in: Journal of Near Eastern studies Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 175 - 189
• Main Author: King, Anya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01-07-2008; University of Chicago Press; University of Chicago, acting through its Press
• Subjects: Aesthetics; Ambergris; Ancient civilizations of the near east; Arabs; Art and archaeology; Chamomile; Classical art; Commodities; Cultural history; Frankincense; Generalities and origins; Incense; Islam; Islamic culture; Literary criticism; Mesopotamia and Near East; Myrrh; Nabatea and Pre-Islamic Arabic peninsula; Perfumes; Poetry; Prestige; Regional studies; Religious poetry; Saffron; Sexuality; Similes; Social classes; Status; Trade; Umayyades of syria; Umayyad dynasty; Pre-Islamic; Arabia; Arabian Peninsula; Arabic; Literature; Islam; Luxury; Perfume; Incense; Poetry; Culture
• ISSN: 0022-2968; 1545-6978
• DOI: 10.1086/591746

King examines the Arabic poetry, which is replete with the imagery of scent. Among the prized scents, musk and ambergris are the most important, followed by several other substances. These most prized aromatics originated from outside the Arabian Peninsula. Aromatics of Arabian origin are quite rare in Arabic poetry in general. One reason for this is the high value accorded to imported goods. Rare and expensive goods conveyed a sense of status to the people who possessed them, and, by association with the aristocracy who could afford them, the goods themselves became even more desirable. It is this prestige, at least in part, that prompted poets to use these substances in their similes. There is a strong continuity in their use as images in poetry, compounded by the Islamic associations they acquired.