Mecca Collection

Cars parked in Market Way Precinct, Coventry. Soon there will be a ban on Precinct parking so this sight will disappear. 7th October 1961

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)
Photograph of Sir Richard Francis Burton, the English explorer, linguist and diplomat. A master of up to 30 languages, Burton made a pilgrimage to Mecca disguised as a Pathan in 1853

Muslim prayer carpet, Palestinian Authority, Middle East

Arab empire, mid-700s
Empire of the Arab Caliphs, middle of the 8th century. Printed color lithograph

Egypt - Old Egyptian men at prayer

Saudi Arabia Mecca
The Kaaba, or Kissing Stone enclosure

Mecca / Kaaba
THE KaBA AT MECCA

The casino at Monte Carlo by C. Morse
The mecca of the Cote d Azur, artists impression of the famous Casino Terraces at Monte Carlo on the French Riviera. Hither come pleasure-seekers from all quarters of the globe to bask in

Illustrated map of ancient Arab trade routes and pilgrimage sites

Hadgi (Mecca pilgrims) encamped near Antioch, on the banks of the Orontes, Turkey, 1841. Artist: Henry Adlard
Hadgi (Mecca pilgrims) encamped near Antioch, on the banks of the Orontes, Turkey, 1841. From Syria, the Holy land and Asia Minor, volume I, by John Carne, published by Fisher, Son & Co

Sir Richard Burton en route to Mecca, 1850s
British explorer Richard Burton disguised as a Muslim pilgrim in Arabia. Color lithograph reproduction of a 19th-century illustration

Pilgrims returning to Algeria from Mecca, having undertaking the Hajj, the pilgrimage every able-bodied Muslim is required to undertake at least once in their lifetime

Mecca ca 1910 Kaaba Saudi Arabia
Mecca, ca. 1910. The Kaaba. 1910, Saudi Arabia, Mecca

Painting of a Turkish man - Constantinople. Once a man had taken pilgrimage to Mecca, he always wore a beard and was forthwith known as Haji (followed by his name) to denote this fact

Pilgrims Cross Desert
A caravan of pilgrims cross the desert to Mecca

Richard Burton in eastern costume
Richard Burton, traveller, in the costume he wore as a pilgrim to Mecca

Photocard, 1930s: Damascus (coloured photo)
8671633 Photocard, 1930s: Damascus (coloured photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Damascus)

The encampment of the explorer, writer, British linguist Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890)
NWI4850889 The encampment of the explorer, writer, British linguist Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) during his pilgrimage to Mecca around 1850

View of the village of Mina, in the desert of Arafat (Tent City, Mecca, Saudi Arabia)
FLO4721782 View of the village of Mina, in the desert of Arafat (Tent City, Mecca, Saudi Arabia). Illustration by Ali Bey el Abbassi from his Travels in Morocco, Tripoli, Cyprus, Egypt, Arabia

Saudi Arabia, Mecca: the Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'ba), 1890
LUX4746752 Saudi Arabia, Mecca: the Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'ba), 1890; (add.info.: Saudi Arabia, Mecca: the Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'ba), 1890); Photo © Lux-in-Fine.

View of Mecca, Persian miniature, 17th century (illuminated manscript)
AIS5355993 View of Mecca, Persian miniature, 17th century (illuminated manscript); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France; © Iberfoto.

Saudi Arabia, Mecca: Black Stone Square (Kaaba, Ka'aba, Ka'ba) in the Holy City of Mecca, 1890
LUX4746777 Saudi Arabia, Mecca: Black Stone Square (Kaaba, Ka'aba, Ka'ba) in the Holy City of Mecca, 1890; (add.info.: Saudi Arabia, Mecca: Black Stone Square (Kaaba, Ka'aba)

Saudi Arabia, Mecca: Pilgrimage around the Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'ba), 1890 (b/w photo)
LUX4746761 Saudi Arabia, Mecca: Pilgrimage around the Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'ba), 1890 (b/w photo); Photo © Lux-in-Fine.

Iranian 19th Century Brass Compass
5304684 Iranian 19th Century Brass Compass.; (add.info.: Brass Compass. Iranian, 1800-75. The magnetic compass, a Chinese invention, had arrived in the Middle East by the 13th century)

Balsam of Mecca, Commiphora gileadensis
5855126 Balsam of Mecca, Commiphora gileadensis; (add.info.: Balsam of Mecca, Commiphora gileadensis. Handcoloured botanical illustration drawn by G)

Sacred place called Meroua (Al-Marwah) formed by three great walls in a street in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
FLO4721797 Sacred place called Meroua (Al-Marwah) formed by three great walls in a street in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Illustration by Ali Bey el Abbassi from his Travels in Morocco, Tripoli, Cyprus

Pelerins de La Mecque
2531461 Pelerins de La Mecque; (add.info.: Religion. Islam. Pilgrims of Mecca coming from Cairo. Engraving in: Description of Africa, by Olfert Dapper, Netherlands, 1668.); Photo © CCI.

Life of a City clerk, luncheon bar and afterwards at a coffee house (engraving)
8631643 Life of a City clerk, luncheon bar and afterwards at a coffee house (engraving) by Eckhardt, Oscar (1872-1904); Private Collection; (add.info.: Life of a City clerk)

The Kaaba in Mecca (engraving)
8663930 The Kaaba in Mecca (engraving) by French School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. From Atlas Historique, by Henri Abraham Chatelain)

Iranian 19th Century Brass Compass
5304682 Iranian 19th Century Brass Compass.; (add.info.: Brass Compass. Iranian, 1800-75. The magnetic compass, a Chinese invention, had arrived in the Middle East by the 13th century)

Saudi Arabia, Mecca: The Great Square of Mecca with the Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'ba) and the Pelerins, 1886
LUX4746755 Saudi Arabia, Mecca: The Great Square of Mecca with the Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'ba) and the Pelerins, 1886; (add.info.: Saudi Arabia)

Return of the Haj from Mecca to Damascus (colour litho)
8651657 Return of the Haj from Mecca to Damascus (colour litho) by Thomas, Margaret (1843-1929); Private Collection; (add.info.: Return of the Haj from Mecca to Damascus)

The Mi'raj (Night Journey of the Prophet) with the Ka'ba in Mecca Below... c1600. Creator: Unknown
The Mi'raj (Night Journey of the Prophet) with the Ka'ba in Mecca Below, Page from an unidentified Manuscript (image 1 of 3), c1600

Caravane en route vers La Mecque, between 1880 and 1885. Creator: Felix Francois Georges Philibert Ziem
Caravane en route vers La Mecque, between 1880 and 1885

Le Grand Vizir, plate five from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Le Grand Vizir, plate five from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Bacha d'Égypte, plate six from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Bacha d'Egypte, plate six from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Porte-Enseigne, plate three from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Porte-Enseigne, plate three from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Bacha à trois Queues, plate four from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Bacha a trois Queues, plate four from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Aga des Janissaires, plate one from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Aga des Janissaires, plate one from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Chef des Spahis, plate two from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Chef des Spahis, plate two from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Title Page, from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Title Page, from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

The Chinese Ambassador, plate fifteen from Caravanne du Sultane à la Mecque, c. 1748
The Chinese Ambassador, plate fifteen from Caravanne du Sultane a la Mecque, c. 1748

Emir Bachi, plate twelve from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Emir Bachi, plate twelve from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Le Moufti, plate ten from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Le Moufti, plate ten from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

The Persian Ambassador, plate eighteen from Caravanne du Sultane à la Mecque, 1748
The Persian Ambassador, plate eighteen from Caravanne du Sultane a la Mecque, 1748

Char tiré par quatre chevaux de front, Sur lequel étaient les Sultanes et les Eunuques, pl... 1748
Char tire par quatre chevaux de front, Sur lequel etaient les Sultanes et les Eunuques, plate 30 from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Sultane Reine, plate 29 from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Sultane Reine, plate 29 from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

Sultane Noire, plate 28 from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque, 1748. Creator: Joseph-Marie Vien the Elder
Sultane Noire, plate 28 from Caravanne du Sultan a la Mecque, 1748

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Mecca: A Sacred Journey Through Time Step into the enchanting world of Mecca, a city that has captivated hearts for centuries. From its ancient roots to its modern-day significance, Mecca holds an unparalleled allure that transcends time and borders. It all began with Sir Richard Francis Burton, a fearless explorer who ventured into the heart of Arabia in the mid-1800s. His accounts of Mecca's mystique ignited curiosity and fascination among Westerners, unveiling a hidden gem shrouded in secrecy. As you walk through the bustling streets, your eyes are drawn to vibrant Muslim prayer carpets adorning every corner. Each carpet tells a story – stories of devotion and reverence towards Allah, and is here where faith converges with artistry, creating an intricate tapestry woven by generations past. Travel further back in time to the era of the Arab empire in the mid-700s when Mecca flourished as a center for trade and pilgrimage. Its strategic location along ancient Arab trade routes made it a melting pot of cultures and ideas – an oasis where merchants from far-flung lands converged to exchange goods and knowledge. In Egypt, old Egyptian men find solace in prayer; their weathered faces reflecting years spent seeking spiritual enlightenment. Their devotion echoes across continents as Muslims worldwide turn their gaze towards Saudi Arabia's Mecca - home to Masjid Al Haram and its majestic centerpiece, the Kaaba. The Kaaba stands tall amidst a sea of believers clad in white garments during Hajj - Islam's annual pilgrimage. This sacred site unites millions from diverse backgrounds under one common purpose: submission before God Almighty. But beyond its spiritual significance lies another facet – one that surprises even seasoned travelers. The casino at Monte Carlo by C. Morse seems worlds apart from this holy sanctuary; yet both symbolize humanity's quest for meaning amidst life's uncertainties.