Or. 12208 (St. Pancras, British Library)
Asian and African Studies Oriental Manuscripts
Khamsah ( خمسه ) of Niẓāmī Ganjavī, 1140 or 41-1202 or 3, نظامى گنجوى
Contents
5 works by 2 authors on the subjects of Persian poetry and Masnavis
Anūshīrvān and the owls (Manohar).
Sulṭān Sanjar and the old woman (La'l).
Farīdūn and the gazelle (Mukund).
The two contending physicians (Miskīneh).
References
Khusraw enthroned when as a young man he became drunk and allowed his horse to wander off and damage crops and vines (Dharmdās).
Shāpūr kneeling before Shīrīn (Mādhū).
Shāpūr returning to Khusraw to tell him of his visit to Shīrīn (Dharmdās).
Bārbad the minstrel paying homage to Khusraw as he bestows gifts on him (Narsingh).
Khusraw and Shīrīn meeting on the hunting grounds (Nānhā).
Khusraw and Shīrīn entertained by Mahīn Bānū in Armenia (painted by Farrukh Chela and drawing by Dhanrāj).
Khusraw's war-elephant seizing Bahrām Chūbin in its trunk during their battle (Manohar).
Khusraw hunting ('Abd al-Ṣamad).
Shīrūy and Buzurjumīd before Khusraw (Mādhū Chela).
Shīrīn commiting suicide on Khusraw's tomb (Dharmdās).
References
Niẓāmī entrusting his young son called Muḥammad to take care of Minūchihr, prince of Shirvan, at whose request he wrote the poem of Laylá va Majnūn (Khem Karanartist).
Lailā and Majnūn fainting (Farrukh Chela).
Majnūn mourning his father's death (Manohar).
Majnūn visited in the desert by his mother and Salīm (Sānwlah).
Salīm telling Majnūn of his mother's death (Nand Gwāliori).
Battle of the tribes watched by Majnūn who is holding a rock (Nānhā).
The death of Majnūn on Lailā's grave (Sūr Gujarātī).
References
(border). Tinted drawing of a man holding a book.
Bahrām Gūr putting the crown on his head having killed the two lions to gain it (Mukund).
The man carried away by the sīmurgh (Dharmdās). (Story told by the Indian Princess).
The princess who painted a self-portrait (Jagannāth). (Story told by the Russian Princess).
The owner of the garden discovering maidens bathing in the pool (Sānwlah). (Story told by the Greek Princess).
References
This work is divided in two parts
Iskandar with Nūshābeh (Bhūreh).
Iskandar received by the Ḳaid of Hind (Dharmdās).
Mānī painting a dead dog on top of the reservoir to prevent women from breaking their jars on the marble top which looked like water (Sūr Gujarātī).
Iskandar trying to persuade the women of Ḳipchāḳ to veil their faces by setting up a carving of a veiled bride (Mukund).
The Russian champion holding the trunk of Iskandar's elephant which he tore off in their battle (Farrukh Chela).
Khiẓr washing the grey horse, given to him by Iskandar, in the Water of Life (Kanak Singh Chela).
Miryam, the Christian maiden versed in the art of alchemy consulted by other alchemists (Sānwlah).
Plato charming the wild animals by his music (Mādhū).
Iskandar and the seven sages (Nānhā).
Iskandar journeying through the desert (Bhem Gujarātī).
A priestess beseeching Iskandar to spare an idol from destruction (317v by La'l and 318r by Mukund).
The scribe of the manuscript, 'Abd al-Raḥīm and the artist, Daulat, together (inscription on book). Another inscription with a dedication to Jahāngīr is on the carpet.
References
Physical Description
Hand(s)
Decoration
39 miniatures
5 illuminations
Game brought to Akbar after hunting.
Akbar and one of the princes hunting.
Binding
Lacquered binding
History
Record Sources
Availability
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Funding of Cataloguing
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