Hazam describes the "symptoms" of love in The Dove's Necklace as being almost spell-like. He says that when one listens to his love speak, no matter what she says he will agree with even if he knows it to be wrong. His description of love depicts a state in which both lovers are almost magnetically drawn to together in all senses. Similar statements are made in the poetry, for example "if my soul were filled with anything but you, I would pluck it out, while any membrane [covering it] would be torn away from it by [my] hands"(A3). The speaker wants to rid himself of anything but love for the other person, even if that means removing some of himself.
The type of love that Hazam talks about in these texts seems to boarder on obsession. There is a section in The Dove's Necklace in which Hazam describes a person not being able to eat or speak because the thought of his lover renders him without words. In the poetry the speaker says, "If he should speak, among those who sit in my company, I listen only to the words of that marvelous charmer" (D2). So, while one lover is wordless because of the thought of his love the other can only listen to his/her love. Either way, it seems that the intensity of love that Hazam and the other poets describes is all--consuming for both parties.

Through the early Islamic, Early Medieval and Late Medieval periods, the leadership of the Mediterranean region changed rapidly. Due to the constant political/religious change, many cultural and artistic ideas traveled around North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and parts of Europe. For example, Islamic people took the idea of white Chinese porcelain and painted theirs vibrant colors and luster painted pottery making traveled from Egypt to Iran. As artistic ideas traveled from place to place they developed and become more sophisticated. Another example of cultural exchange is textiles, the English words "cotton" and "mohair" are derived from Arabic.
When the Mongols invaded the Islamic regions they brought Chinese design and influences with them, including illustrated manuscripts. Traditionally Chinese figures, such as dragons and phoenix's appear on Islamic art work produced during the Mongol rule.
Overall, with each invasion and take over of parts of the Islamic world came new artist influences and techniques, which together created the Islamic art form.  

The myths in books 4 and 6 of Metamorphoses explore the role of women in myth. Arachne, Pallas and Philomela all use the art of weaving to communicate in some way. Arachne and Pallas use it to compete, however each weaves a tapestry that tells a story. When Philomela's tounge is cut out and she can no longer speak she weaves the story of her rape so that she can tell her sister what happened. We have discussed the use of "feminine arts" as means of communication and manipulation/power for women and that is true in Metamorphoses as well.
Overall, I would not say that women are portrayed in a positive light in these myths. Salmacis cannot control her lust for Hermaphroditus and she attacks him. Pallas cannot control her anger toward Arachne when she claims that Pallas did not teach her to weave and so she turns her into a spider. Niobe is jealous that people worship Latona and not her and she is punished with the death of her children and husband. Instead of taking revenge against her husband after he raped Philomela, Pronce kills her own son and feeds him to her husband. The women who are portrayed in these myths display a lack of control in love and in anger.

Book 1 of Metamorphoses is very similar to the Genesis stories of creation. In Metamorphoses, matter is described as chaotic before a "god and a greater order of nature" separates the elements and creates the organized world that is familiar to us today. Metamorphoses is more specific than Genesis was, it specifies the different regions of the earth and their climates as well as the winds. Another similarity between the two stories is the cleansing flood. The gods in Metamorphoses and God in Genesis feel that human kind  is a mistake and flood the earth to kill all of the evil that human kind has created. In both stories there are two human survivors who are virtuous in the eyes of the Gods.

Narcissus falls in love with the reflected image of himself. He can never have this other "person" because he is a reflection in the water. Every time Narcissus tries to touch "him" he puts his hand in the water and disturbs the image. This could be the basis for love in all human relationships because in order to love and accept another person one must love them self first. People, generally, look to have relationships with others who share some interests or personality traits and perhaps the story of Narcissus is that idea taken to the extreme. 

The violence that Odysseus displays in Book 22 allows Odysseus to re-live his past and display his strength in battle one final time. Odysseus possesses the skill and cunning of a fighter, so it seems important from a character development standpoint, for the reader to see Odysseus in his element. Also, in this battle, unlike the battles of the Iliad, Odysseus is fighting for a peaceful home for himself and his family, not just for glory. Odysseus could not restore peace to his house and remove the suitor without killing them. Based on the end of the text, only the Gods can do that. The contrast between the power that the Gods have to solve problems without violence, and Odysseus' need spill blood, illustrates the superiority of the Gods over humans.

Odysseus and Penelope's bed serves to symbolize the steadfastness of their marriage. The bed is built out of a tree that grows through their house and it is immobile. Both the bed and their marriage have deep roots which can stand the test of time. The way that Penelope tests Odysseus by asking her servant to move the bed, is another example of her using her "feminine knowledge" to take control of the situation, very much like the way that she knitted and un-knitted the funeral shroud and the beginning of the text. After Odysseus says that the bed cannot be moved, she knows it is him and that she can trust him.

In Book 11 Odysseus tells the story of his journey to Hades and his conversations with the dead. He sees his mother in Hades. She gives him an update on what has happened in Ithaca. She also tells him the story of her death. She died of grief waiting for Odysseus to return. It is important for Odysseus to receive this information, now he knows that there are suitors at his home, but that his wife has remained faithful. This knowledge gives him more motivation to return home. Knowing that his mother died of grief shows Odysseus how much he has been missed and gives him yet another reason to return home.
Odysseus talks to many warriors who died in the battles in Troy. Most notably he speaks to Achilles. Achilles is angry to be dead, he says that he would rather live a miserable, boring life that be a ruler in the underworld. He asks about his son and is very happy to hear that his son is a great warrior.
I think that all of these conversations with the dead are very important in Odysseus' journey because he sees the heartache and death that war causes. He feels bad about everyone who was lost in his journey and his desire to return home and make peace is renewed.

The sirens represent Odysseus's lack of faithfulness to his wife. Odysseus has be "distracted" by Calypso and Circe on his journey home. He hears the beautiful song of the sirens and even though he wants to go to them he must resist and continue his journey home. Odysseus is successful in resisting the temptation but only through forethought. He prepares for the temptation by plugging his crew's ears so that even if he is tempted they will be able to guide the ship past the sirens and keep Odysseus from going to them. Odysseus learns to trust his men to help him get home by giving them control of the ship while he is bound to the mast.

The characters in Book 6 Naucisaa, Arete, and King Alcinous represent peaceful hospitality. Naucisaa gives Odysseus clothing, even though she doesn't know him. She brings him to her home and her parents give him food and arrange for him to have a ship to bring him home. Odysseus is used to life at war, at King Alcinous' palace is a place of luxury and leisure. It is Odysseus' first peaceful encounter since he left for war. At first he worries that the Phaeacians will fight him, because that is what he is used to. This is Odysseus' first step to adjust to peaceful life.

Demodocus, the blind singer incorporates both the importance of song in the Odyssey, but also he reinforces Odysseus' journey back towards a civilized life. The song that retold stories from the war brought Odysseus to tears. He is softening his warlike traits and feeling sadness for those who were lost and for the time he spent away from home. He must undergo this transformation from warrior to civilian in order to live peacefully at home with his family.