Both these caskets were made for Hadjeb Abd el Melik, a minister of Hischem the second.
It is necessary to add to them an ivory diptych, preserved at the Provincial Museum of Burgos, which, as we find by the following inscription, was also made for Abder Rahman III, (A.D. 912-961).
"This was ordered to be made by the Iman servant of God Abder Rahman, prince of believers."
Two other boxes of the same artistic character, belonging to a private collection, must also be mentioned. They are both cylindrical, and are terminated by a spherical cover. They measure 7½ inches high, by 4-5/8 wide, and are covered with a profuse and splendid ornamentation of figures and animals. Round the lid of one them is a band, with the following inscription in fine Cufic character:
"The blessing of God and his favours, joy, and prosperity, for Almogueira, son of the Prince of the faithful, whom may God have forgiven. It was made in the year 357 [A.D. 967]."
Almogueira was the son of the Caliph of Cordova, Abder Rahman III.
On the other may be read in similar characters—
