Jesus and Mary between Islam and Christianity in the Arabic Inscriptions of the Casa del Conde in Toledo

In this article we intend to highlight the originality of the Arabic inscriptions that adorn the arch of the so-called Casa del Conde in Toledo, dating from the 15th century. The main inscription on the arch is a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary written in aljamiado, a Romance language with very elaborate Arabic graphics, and the secondary ones, which are more legible, repeat now in Aljamiado, now in Arabic the names of Jesus and Saint Mary. In addition, in the Arabic segment, Jesus is named in his Muslim version, 'Isa, and his filiation to Mary is emphasized as a reminiscence of one of the main disagreements between Islam and Christianity regarding the figure of Jesus. Based on a reading parallel to that of Rodrigo Amador de los Rios, we propose an epigraphic and linguistic analysis, before studying the content and meaning of the texts. Analyzing the context, the relationship between craftsman and client, and comparing with other Mudejar inscriptions that pose similar problems, we end up considering these inscriptions as a reflection of the willingness on the part of Christian clients to synthesize various religious and cultural traditions. We do not think, however, that this reconciliation between Islam and Christianity should be understood as the expression of an openness to the beliefs of others, but rather as a hegemonic attempt to embrace everyone under Christian power.