ABOUT THE BOOK
Julius Euting: Diary of a Journey Through Inner Arabia, 1883-1884
Epigraphist, artist, traveller, and one of the great Semitists of his time, Julius Euting (1839–1913) combined academic rigour with a love of exploration. Born in Stuttgart and later based in Strasbourg, he made groundbreaking contributions to Punic, Hebrew, and Aramaic studies.
In 1883, Euting undertook his most dangerous journey, travelling through northern Arabia with the French-Alsatian explorer Charles Huber. Their mission sought to document ancient inscriptions and archaeological sites such as Taymā’ and Madā’in Sālih. But their collaboration, strained by Franco-German rivalry and Huber’s financial dependence on Euting, ended in separation. Euting continued to the Red Sea coast at great personal risk, while Huber was murdered near Jiddah in 1884.
Euting’s notebooks record vivid observations, anecdotes, and personal reactions alongside the earliest systematic records of Aramaic, Nabataean, and Ancient North Arabian inscriptions and rock art. Richly illustrated with his original watercolours and sketches, they provide an unparalleled record of 19th-century European exploration of Arabia.
This edition, presented in English for the first time, includes a new introduction by historian William Facey, re-evaluating Euting’s achievements and his role in the discovery of the Tayma Stele.
OUR NEW TITLES
Sea of Pearls
Before the discovery of oil, the sea was the Gulf’s greatest wealth. Each summer, fleets of wooden dhows sailed out into the turquoise waters, their crews diving deep on a single breath, armed only with a nose clip, a stone weight, and a rope. They returned to the surface clutching oysters, hoping for the prize within pearls so perfect they adorned the crowns of kings and captivated the luxury markets of India and Europe.
Lorimer
In 1908, the British government quietly commissioned a vast and meticulous record of the Arabian Gulf and surrounding regions. Compiled by John Gordon Lorimer, a senior political officer in the Indian Civil Service, The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia became one of the most extraordinary works of intelligence ever produced by a colonial administration.
Julius Euting
In the winter of 1883, German epigraphist Julius Euting and French-Alsatian geographer Charles Huber departed Damascus on a perilous journey into the heart of northern Arabia. Their mission: to uncover ancient inscriptions and reveal the region’s forgotten history.
In Praise of the Artisan
Across the Islamic world, artistry is not only preserved—it continues to evolve. From the rhythmic tapping of stone carvers in Rajasthan to the delicate calligraphy of Istanbul’s masters, from Cairo’s woodworkers to the skilled embroiderers of Makkah, crafts that have shaped homes, mosques, and cities for centuries are still vibrant today.
Bedouin Weaving
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.
A Journey to Arabia Felix
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.