The World of the Fatimids bears witness to a remarkable dynasty that built one of the world’s oldest universities, compiled one of its greatest libraries, and fostered a flowering of the arts and sciences. At its height in the 10th and 11th centuries, the Fatimids established one of the greatest civilizations in the world, influencing knowledge and culture throughout the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Near East.

The exhibition marks the first time a carefully selected collection of masterpieces from the Fatimid dynasty are shown in North America. Among the objects are monumental marble reliefs, never before shown abroad, from the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, luxury objects ranging from rock crystal and ivory to ceramic lusterware — a technique mastered during Fatimid times — and masterpieces of metalware. Drone videography and 360 virtual reality films conjure up Cairo, the Fatimids’ flourishing capital, and offer insight into what the city was like a millennium ago.

In the News:

The Wall Street Journal, March 19, 2018
The Art Lovers Who Founded Cairo

AKDN, April 4, 2018
The World of the Fatimids: Through the Photographer’s Lens

CBC, March 10, 2018
Landmark World of the Fatimids Exhibition Opens at Aga Khan Museum

BBC, March 20, 2018
What Did the Height of Luxury Look Like in the 10th Century?

Daily Nation, March 15, 2018
Aga Khan Museum Holds Rare Fatimids Exhibition

Le Métropolitain, March 13, 2018
Découvrir l’époque des Fatimides au Musée Aga Khan

Toronto Star, March 9, 2018
Aga Khan Museum Explores Lost World of the Fatimids

Asia Plus, March 2, 2018
‘The World of Fatimids’ Goes on Display at the Aga khan Museum in Toronto

Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, August 12, 2018
Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum Houses Treasures From The Fatimid Dynasty