A talk by Dr Geoffrey King – Reader in Islamic Art and Archaeology at The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Dr King researches principally on the architecture, archaeology and art of Arabia, greater Syria, Iran and the Indian Ocean. His first degree is from the Slade School of Fine Art, University of London and he paints, particularly with water-colors.
His M.Phil. (1972) was on a mosque in Toledo and his Ph. D. (1976) was on the mosaics of the Great Mosque of Damascus.
Subsequently he taught at the American University in Cairo, Egypt (1977-1980) and King Saud University, al-Riyad, Saudi Arabia (1980-1987).
He is currently working with Iranian colleagues on Islamic devotional architecture in Iran and also on inter-relationships between Arabia, Iran, Africa and China via the Indian Ocean. Dr King has contributed to BBC World Service radio programs on the archaeology of Yemen, of Abu Dhabi, Syria and on the Islamic pilgrimage and the Ottoman railway system from Damascus to al-Madina al-Munuwarra; he has also participated in programs on Islamic art, architecture and culture on UK’s Channel 4 and on Iranian and Syrian television.
