خمسۀ امیرخسرو دهلوى، مثنوی قرآن سعدين, نه سپهر

Walters Ms. W.623, Collection of poetry

Walters Ms. W.623, Collection of poetry

Khamsah-i Dihlavī

Qirān-i saʿdayn

Nuh sipihr

خمسه دهلوى

قران سعدين

نه سپهر

Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī, ca. 1253-1325 (author)

Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī (author)

امير خسرو دهلوى (author)

This illuminated and illustrated manuscript contains the Khamsah (quintet) and two historical poems (masnavi), Qirān-i saʿdayn and Nuh sipihr, by Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī (d. 725 AH / 1325 CE). The codex is dated 1017 AH / 1609 CE and was produced in Safavid Iran. All texts are written in black nastaʿlīq script with chapter headings in red. The manuscript opens with an illuminated and illustrated frontispiece of a hunting and court scene in the early Safavid style (fols. 1b-2a). The first text is Khamsah-i Dihlavī (fols. 2b-192a), which is introduced by an illuminated incipit and titlepiece with the title of the first poem of the quintet and the author's name. The second text is Qirān-i saʿdayn, a historical poem (masnavi) about the meeting of Sultan Muʿizz al-Dīn Kayqubād and his father, Nāṣir al-Din Bughrā Khān, on the banks of the Sarjū in Oudh. It is also introduced with an illuminated incipit and titlepiece (fol. 193b). The third text is Nuh sipihr, a historical poem (masnavi) describing the glories of Sultan Quṭb al-Dīn Mubārak Shāh Khaljī’s time, introduced with an illuminated incipit and headpiece (fol. 223b). The dark brown leather binding is original to the manuscript. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W623/description.html

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.

Seventeen illustrations; illuminated and illustrated frontispiece inscribed with the title and the author's name (fols. 1b-2a); illuminated incipits with titlepieces and cloud-bands between the lines, some with decorated borders; frame

One illustration; illuminated incipit with titlepiece and cloud-bands; frame

Five illustrations; illuminated incipit with headpiece and cloud-bands; frame

fol. 1b Hunting scene Illustration; frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illuminated and illustrated frontispiece of the Khamsah-i Dihlavī.

fol. 2a Court scene Illustration; frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illuminated and illustrated frontispiece of the Khamsah-i Dihlavī.

fol. 2b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece inscribed: Kitāb Maṭlaʿ al-anvār min Khamsat Amīr Khusraw ʿalayhi al-raḥmah. There is interlinear decoration of gilt and polychrome floral motifs and an outer illuminated border.

fol. 26a ʿAlī kills an infidel who had spat in his face Illustration

fol. 28a A king out hunting accidentally kills a youth Illustration A king out hunting, having accidentally killed a youth, offers the boy's mother his life or a platter of gold.

fol. 40b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece inscribed: Kitāb-i Laylá va Majnūn-i Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī.

fol. 49a Majnūn’s father brings him to his family Illustration

fol. 64b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece inscribed: Kitāb-i Āyinah-i Iskanadarī-i Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī raḥmat Allāh ʿalayhi.

fol. 72a The Khāqān of China receives a letter from Alexander the Great Illustration The Khāqān of China receives a letter from Alexander the Great (Iskandar) demanding his surrender.

fol. 81b Alexander the Great searches for the Fountain of Life Illustration Alexander the Great (Iskandar) searches for the Fountain of Life which is made invisible by the prophets Khiz̤r and Ilyās.

fol. 89b Alexander the Great invents a mirror Illustration Alexander the Great (Iskandar) invents a mirror that, when mounted on a tower, shows everything within a radius of 60 farsangs and thus enables Alexander’s men to attack marauding pirates.

fol. 95b Alexander the Great visits Plato in his cave Illustration

fol. 108b Alexander the Great's army carries his casket back to Greece Illustration

fol. 111b Text page Text page This text page marks the end of Āyinah-i Iskanadarī and the beginning of Hasht bihisht. The latter is introduced by two panels with the inscription: Bāb fatḥ Hasht bihist.

fol. 118b Bahrām Gūr recognizes Dilārām Illustration Bahrām Gūr recognizes Dilārām by the music with which she enchants the animals.

fol. 129b Bahrām Gūr in the red pavilion Illustration This is the story of the princess in the red pavilion. A prince befriends an old woman in order to gain access to the tower and abduct his beloved.

fol. 139a Bahrām Gūr in the sandalwood pavilion Illustration

fol. 147b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece inscribed: Kitāb-i Khusraw Shīrīn-i Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī raḥmat Allāh ʿalayhi.

fol. 160b Khusraw makes love to Shīrīn Illustration

fol. 169b Khusraw discusses his dream with Buzurg Umīd Illustration

fol. 179b Khusraw and Shīrīn are entertained at their wedding Illustration

fol. 188b Buzurg Umīd tells Khusraw the story of a king’s punishment of a rude messenger Illustration

fol. 193b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece inscribed: Kitāb-i Qirān-i saʿdayn-i Amīr Khusraw.

fol. 212b Sultan Muʿizz al-Dīn is reconciled with his father, Naṣīr al-Dīn Bughrā Khān Illustration

fol. 223b Incipit page with illuminated headpiece Incipit; headpiece

fol. 237b Shāh Jahān returns to his court in India Illustration

fol. 250b Scenes from the wintry period in India (December and January) Illustration

fol. 259b A school scene Illustration

fol. 263b A court scene Illustration

fol. 268a A court scene Illustration

30 Ramaḍān -- 22 Dhū al-Ḥijjah 1017 AH / 1609 CE

Ownership statement: Ibn Abī Ḥusayn ʿAlī [...] ʿAlī, plus seal (fol. 1a)

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Persian

paper

image/jpeg

1017

All Walters manuscript images and descriptions provided here are copyrighted © The Walters Art Museum.