How did people remember important life achievements before photography?

This painted tile is a souvenir of the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. Known as the Hajj, Muslim believers are required to perform it once in their lifetime.

Commissioned by someone who completed the Hajj around 1650, this tile shows a bird’s-eye view of Mecca. The stonepaste body was hand-painted and calligraphed before the final glazing, preserving its bright colours, such as cobalt and turquoise blue.
@V_and_A #globalmuseum