What was the function of a pyxis? who was this pyxis gifted to? what is a caliph? (look it up, credible resource! ) what is / where is al-andalus? how long did muslims control al-andalus? (range of years and total years) what is this pyxis made out of? why was this material used heavily in this area of the world (and had been since the late roman empire)? what type of people usually were gifted objects like this (who were they made for)? what does aniconic mean? is this object aniconic? what iconography does this pysxis feature that has led some scholars to believe it expresses political authority / legitimacy?