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Manuscript/Mixed Material Beginning of "Khusraw va Shirin"

About this Item

Title

  • Beginning of "Khusraw va Shirin"

Created / Published

  • 1550-1600

Headings

  • -  Calligraphy, Arabic
  • -  Calligraphy, Persian
  • -  Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Iran
  • -  Arabic script calligraphy
  • -  Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Islamic calligraphy
  • -  Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Nasta'liq

Notes

  • -  "Khusraw va Shirin" from the Nizami's Khamsah, Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script.
  • -  At the beginning of each book (kitab) of the "Khamsah", the author praises God and His Unity (typically entitled dar tawhid, or "On Unity"). This first section is then followed, as seen on this folio, by examining the proof (istidlal) of God's presence and praising the Exalted Creator (dar munajat-i Bari ta'ala).
  • -  Dimensions of Written Surface: Recto: 12.2 (w) x 21 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: Verso: 12 (w) x 21.7 (h) cm
  • -  Nine other folios from the same manuscript -- mostly initial and terminal folios of the various books (kitab) from the "Khamsah", as well as one painting from the story of Laylah wa Majnun -- are held in the Library of Congress as well. These bear the same nasta'liq script at 20 lines in 4 columns/page within a similar written surface size of ca. 12 (w) x 21 (h) cm. The folios are: 1-85-154.1a R & V, 1-85-154.1b R & V, 1-85-154.2a R & V, 1-85-154.2b V, and 1-86-154.123 R (painting) & V.
  • -  The illumination, text layout, and nasta'liq script are typical of manuscripts made in the city of Shiraz during the second half of the 16th century. Many Safavid Persian manuscripts at this time were produced for the domestic market and international export, rather than by royal commission.
  • -  The story of "Khusraw va Shirin" narrates the love relationship of the last great Sasanian ruler, Khusraw Parviz (590-628 A.D.) and his beautiful mistress Shirin. Many of the episodes in this story revolve around the complications caused by the king's ruses and his mistress' strength and faithfulness. Exceptionally understanding of women's personalities, there is no doubt that the personality of Shirin was based on Nizami's own wife (for the story of "Khusraw va Shirin" see "P. Chelkowski et al, Mirror of the Invisible World: Tales from the Khamseh of Nizami" [New York, 1975]: 21-48).
  • -  This illuminated folio contains the introductory praise to God and His Unity (dar tawhid-i Bari, or "On the Unity of the Creator") of Nizami's second book of his "Khamsah" (Quintet), entitled "Khusraw va Shirin". It continues the text of the first two folios of the book, also located in the Library of Congress (1-84-154.2a R & V), and thus completes the praise of God typically found at the beginning of each book (kitab) of the "Khamsah".
  • -  Script: nasta'liq
  • -  1-84-154.2b

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 22.3 (w) x 34.4 (h) cm

Repository

  • Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714498

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Beginning of "Khusraw va Shirin". to 1600, 1550. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714498/.

APA citation style:

(1550) Beginning of "Khusraw va Shirin". to 1600. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714498/.

MLA citation style:

Beginning of "Khusraw va Shirin". to 1600, 1550. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714498/>.