Join our exciting new series of online seminars co-presented by Katya Nosyreva and Bink Hallum. Number games, erudite puzzles, objects of serious mathematical research, conduits for occult properties, or planetary talismans infused with spirits? Magic squares have been considered all these things and more. This course will explore the reception and development of awfāq (sing. wafq) in the Islamicate world that began in the 3rd/9th century and continues to this day.

Over three sessions, we will progress from magic squares to other magic polygons and circles, and finally to magic spheres and polyhedra. In order to expand our appreciation of awfāq on multiple levels, each session will begin with a richly illustrated talk, introducing the various historical and cultural contexts in which these fascinating objects were created and discussed. These historic perspectives will be complemented by a practical component in which we will use geometric methods of construction to re-enact some of the magic squares, polygons, and polyhedra on paper with drawing instruments. We will discuss their mathematical properties and methods for construction and explore their function as complex talismans with occult properties.