خمسۀ نوایی، به زبان جغتایی

Walters Ms. W.663, Five poems (quintet)

Walters Ms. W.663, Five poems (quintet)

Ḫamse-yi Nevāʾī

خمسه نوائي

Alisher Navoiĭ, 1441-1501 (author)

ʿAlī Šīr Nevāʾī (author)

علي شير نوائي (author)

Mir Ali Šir (author)

This is a Safavid illuminated and illustrated collection of the Ḫamse (quintet), written in Çaġatāy (eastern Turkic), composed by the celebrated ʿAlī Šīr Nevāʾī (d. 906 AH / 1501 CE), and inspired by the Persian Khamse of Niẓāmī and Amīr Khusraw Dihlavī. This copy dates to the tenth century AH / sixteenth CE and has five double-page illustrations in the early Safavid court style. Each double-page illustration introduces the following individual poems: Kitāb-i ḫeyrāt ül-ebrār (fols. 1b-2a), Kitāb-i Ferhād va Şīrīn (fols. 45b-46a), Kitāb-i Mecnūn va Leylā (fols. 108b-109a), Kitāb-i Heşt bihişt (fols. 147b-148a), and Kitāb-i Iskendernāme (fols. 199b-200a). Each poem is also introduced by an illuminated incipit (fols. 2b, 46b, 109b, 148b, and 200b). The brown goatskin binding has a central lobed oval with pendants and cornerpieces brushed with gold. It is possibly attributable to the tenth century AH / sixteenth CE. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W663/description.html

The primary language in this manuscript is Turkish.

Five double-page illustrations (fols. 1b-2a, 45b-46a, 108b-109a, 147b-148a, and 199b-200a); incipit pages with illuminated titlepieces (fols. 2b, 46b, 109b, 148b, and 200b); framing lines in blue, black, and gold

fol. 1b A courtyard scene Illustration; frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting a courtyard scene with courtiers carrying gifts.

fol. 2a A courtyard scene Illustration; frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting a courtyard scene with a prince receiving gifts. The inscription over the door on the left reads yā Mufattiḥ al-abwāb.

fol. 2b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the first poem of the Ḫamse, inscribed Kitāb-i ḫeyrāt ül-ebrār.

fol. 45b Khusraw being entertained in his court with wine and music Illustration; frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting Khusraw being entertained in his court with wine and music.

fol. 46a Ferhād carrying Şīrīn and her dead horse on his shoulders Illustration; frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting Ferhād carrying Şīrīn and her dead horse on his shoulders.

fol. 46b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the second poem of the Ḫamse, inscribed Kitāb-i Ferhād va Şīrīn.

fol. 108b Leylā in her pavilion with her attendants Illustration; frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting Leylā in her pavilion with her attendants.

fol. 109a Mecnūn in the company of wild animals Illustration; frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece, depicting Mecnūn in the company of wild animals.

fol. 109b Inicpit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece, introducing the third poem of the Ḫamse, inscribed Kitāb-i Mecnūn va Leylā.

fol. 147b Bahrām Gūr hunting deer while Fitnah plays the harp Illustration; frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting Bahrām Gūr hunting deer while Fitnah plays the harp.

fol. 148a Bahrām Gūr being entertained by his maid Illustration; frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting Bahrām Gūr being entertained by his maid.

fol. 148b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the fourth poem of the Ḫamse, inscribed Kitāb-i Heşt bihişt.

fol. 199b Alexander the Great at the side of Darius, the killed Persian king Illustration; frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting Alexander the Great (Iskender) at the side of Darius (Dārā), the killed Persian king.

fol. 200a Alexander the Great in search of the fountain of life Illustration; frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illustrated frontispiece depicting Alexander the Great (Iskender) in search of the fountain of life.

fol. 200b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the fifth poem of the Ḫamse, inscribed Kitāb-i Iskendernāme.

10th century AH / 16th CE

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Turkish

paper

image/jpeg

1501

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