Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

This is a selection of objects that can be used to consider the physical and spiritual journey of pilgrimage in several world religions. This might be particularly helpful as a teaching resource, and can be downloaded in the form of a PDF document.

You could consider:

• What is the object?
• Who might have used it and why?
• How are symbols used to express belief?

Buddhism

Prayer wheel containing a scroll (EA1978.80) Stone model of the Mahabodhi temple (EA1996.4)

Gau, or reliquary locket (EA1978.72) Votive plaque depicting scenes from the Buddha’s Life (EAX.415)

Hinduism

Pilgrim map of Varanasi, or Benares (EA1966.56) The Jagannatha Trio within the Puri Temple (EA1967.209)

Islam

Pilgrim token with domed building (EA2002.31) Pilgrim's flask in an embroidered linen bag (EA1994.113)

Cone of dust from Mecca (EAX.3287) Sitarah made for the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina (EA2012.3)

Jainism

Shrine to the teachers Jinadatta Suri and Jinakushala Suri (EA1997.189)

Shintoism

Pilgrims at Kasuga Taisha Shrine (EAX.5361)