This bronze bookmark depicts an ancient Ottoman milestone. It was placed on the road from Damascus to the holy city of Makkah Al Mukarramah, also called Um Al Qura or mother of all settlements.
In those days, the journey took almost five weeks on camel. However a typical pilgrim would have found much to keep him interested along the route. The long road was lined with mosques, like the Darweesh Pascha mosque which was built in 1517 especially to give this road a distinctive Ottoman appearance, madressas (schools and philosophical centres), rest houses and shops selling various wares, hammams, and soup kitchens.
The original of this milestone can be viewed at the National museum in Riyadh.
This bookmark has been produced by the skilled artisans associated with the Museum.
