Walters Ms. W.608, Five poems (quintet)Khamsah-i Niẓāmīخمسه نظامىNiẓāmī Ganjavī, 1140 or 41-1202 or 3Ilyās ibn Yūsuf Niẓāmī Ganjavīالياس بن يوسف نظامى گنجوىAuthor dates preferred by cataloger: d. 605 AH / 1209 CEscribeḤabīb Allāh ibn ʿAlī ibn Ḥusāmحبيب الله بن علي بن حسامPrincipal catalogerGacek, AdamCatalogerLandau, AmyCatalogerSmith, SitaEditorBockrath, DianeContributorBarrera, ChristinaContributorEmery, DougContributorHerbert, LynleyContributorNoel, WilliamContributorSimpson, ShreveContributorTabritha, ArielContributorToth, Michael B.ContributorValle, ChiaraConservatorJewell, StephanieConservatorQuandt, AbigailThe Walters Art Museum

Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Access Rights, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode. It is requested that copies of any published articles based on the information in this data set be sent to the curator of manuscripts, The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201.

This is an illuminated and illustrated copy of the Khamsah (quintet) by Niẓāmī Ganjavī (d. 605 AH / 1209 CE), completed by Ḥabīb Allāh ibn ʿAlī ibn Ḥusām in Safavid Iran in Rabīʿ II 971 AH / 1563 CE. Illuminated titlepieces introduce the five poems, and there are thirty illustrations, the majority of which are attributable to thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE Qajar Iran. Ownership notes and seals indicating the provenance of this manuscript are found throughout the codex (fols. 1a, 2a, 153a, 177a, 233a, 349a, and 351a). The binding is not original to the manuscript.BaltimoreThe Walters Art MuseumW.608The primary language in this manuscript is Persian. The secondary language of this manuscript is Arabic.fols. 2b - 351aKhamsah-i Niẓāmīخمسه نظامىبسم الله الرحمن الرحيم هست كليد در كنج حكيم...Main text preceded by a biographical note on Niẓāmī (fol. 2a); consists of Makhzan al-asrār (fols. 2b-30b), Khusraw va Shīrīn (fols. 31b-108b), Laylá va Majnūn (fols. 109b-161b), Haft paykar (fols. 162b-224b), and Iskandarnāmah (fols. 225b-351a); text out of order in a number of placesscribetammat al-kitāb bi-ʿawn al-Malik al-Wahhāb bi-tārīkh muntaṣaf shahr Rabīʿ al-thānī 971 bi-khaṭṭ aqall al-anām Ḥabīb Allāh ibn ʿAlī ibn Ḥusām /1/In Arabic, giving name of scribe and date of copying

Laid paper

Foliation: 35124.017.017.011.5

Written obliquely on versos

Framing lines in blue, black, and goldWritten in black nastaʿlīq script; chapter/section headings in red inkThirty illustrations; titlepieces (fols. 2b, 31b, 109b, 162b, 225b, and 307b); framing lines in blue, black, and goldIlluminated incipit with titlepieceMakhzan al-asrārIncipit; titlepieceThis incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the first poem of the Khamsah, Makhzan al-asrār. It is inscribed in white on a gold ground with polychrome floral decoration.Illuminated incipit with titlepieceKhusraw va ShīrīnIncipit; titlepieceThis incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the second poem of the Khamsah, Khusraw va Shīrīn, which is inscribed in white on a gold ground with polychrome floral decoration.Khusraw watching Shīrīn bathingKhusraw va ShīrīnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Khusraw and Shīrīn huntingKhusraw va ShīrīnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Khusraw kills a lion outside Shīrīn's tentKhusraw va ShīrīnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Farhād brought before the throne of KhusrawKhusraw va ShīrīnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Farhād carries Shīrīn and her horseKhusraw va ShīrīnIllustration

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Khusraw arriving at Shīrīn's palaceKhusraw va ShīrīnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Khusraw is led by an old woman to ShīrīnKhusraw va ShīrīnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Incipit with illuminated titlepieceLaylá va MajnūnIncipit; titlepageThis incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the third poem of the Khamsah, Laylá va Majnūn. It is inscribed in white on a gold ground with polychrome floral decoration.Laylá and Qays (Majnūn) at schoolLaylá va MajnūnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Majnūn’s father visits his son in the wildernessLaylá va MajnūnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Laylá visits Majnūn in the wildernessLaylá va MajnūnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Laylá and Majnūn faint at the sight of each otherLaylá va MajnūnIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Incipit with illuminated titlepieceHaft paykarIncipit; titlepieceThis incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the fourth poem of the Khamsah, Haft paykar. It is inscribed in white on a gold ground with polychrome floral decoration.Bahrām Gūr kills a lion and a wild assHaft paykarIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr kills a dragonHaft paykarIllustration

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr and portraits of the seven princessesHaft paykarIllustrationBahrām Gūr is depicted with his own portrait and portraits of the seven princesses, inscribed as follows: Azar Sūz, Nasrīn Nūsh, Nāz Parī, Naʿmā Nāz, Fūrak, Daraspī, and Hamāy.

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr kills two lions to claim his crownHaft paykarIllustration

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr kills a wild ass before FitnahHaft paykarIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Fitnah carries a bull on her shoulders in the presence of Bahrām GūrHaft paykarIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr in the black pavilionHaft paykarIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr in the yellow pavilionHaft paykarIllustrationBahrām Gūr in the blue pavilionHaft paykarIllustrationBahrām Gūr in the green pavilionHaft paykarIllustrationBahrām Gūr in the red pavilionHaft paykarIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr in the sandalwood pavilionHaft paykarIllustration

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Dome of the sandalwood pavilionHaft paykarIllustration

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Dome of the white pavilionHaft paykarIllustration

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Bahrām Gūr in the white pavilionHaft paykarIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Incipit with illuminated titlepieceSharafnāmahIncipit; titlepieceThis incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the Sharafnāmah, the first part of the fifth poem of the Khamsah, Iskandarnāmah. It is inscribed in white on a gold ground with polychrome floral decoration.Alexander the Great kills an Ethiopian warriorSharafnāmahIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

The army of Alexander the Great pursues the EthiopiansSharafnāmahIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Alexander the Great defeats the army of the Persian king, DariusSharafnāmahIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Alexander the Great in Nushābah’s pavilion in BardaʿSharafnāmahIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Alexander the Great entertained at the court of the king of ChinaSharafnāmahIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Alexander the Great lassos a Russian warriorSharafnāmahIllustration

While the composition of this miniature dates to 10th century AH / 16th CE, elements of the illustration were repainted in the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Incipit with illuminated titlepieceIqbālnāmahIncipit; titlepieceThis incipit page has an illuminated titlepiece introducing the Iqbālnāmah, the second part of the fifth poem of the Khamsah, Iskandarnāmah. It is inscribed in white on a gold ground with polychrome floral decoration.

This miniature dates to the 13th century AH / 19th CE.

Brown leather with blind-stamped oval central medallion and pendants (no flap)

Mid Rabīʿ II 971 AH / 1563 CEIranOwnership note: Bāqī Pāshā (fol. 1a)Ownership note with seal: ʿAlī Rizā ibn Muṣṭafá, 1180 AH / 1766-7 CE (fol. 2a)Seal impression: ʿAlī Mawlā ʿAlī (fols. 153a, 177a, 233a, and 351a)Ownership note: Ṣāḥibī umm [the mother of] Mīrzā Ibrāhīm (fol. 351b)Seal impression: Shāh Vardī Ghulām Shāh Mardān (fol. 349a)Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequestRelevant WorksStorey, C. A. Persian Literature: A Bio-Bibliographical Survey, Vol. 2. (London: Luzac, 1927- ), 438-495.ArtMedicineMuseumPoetryScriptMuhammad, the ProphetRomaniaKashmiriHorsesWalters Art MuseumBlockbookDocumentGeneologyAstrologyDevotionHistoryLegalLiterature -- PoetryLiterature -- ProseLiturgyPhilosophyScienceScience -- MedicineScriptureSufismTheologyMineralogyLogicGeographyGeomancyCosmologyCartographyFortune-tellingKoranQur`anFirmanPalimpsestPrayerBibleGospelsPsalterMissalLectionaryBook of HoursAntiphonaryPrayerbookHomilaryProcessionalHorologionBreviaryHymnalChroniclePsalter/HoursMaghrebSub-Saharan (West) AfricaTurkeyAfghanistanCentral Arab Lands (Near East)Central AsiaEgyptEnglandIndiaIranIraqPakistanGermanyFranceAustriaNetherlandsEthiopiaArmeniaFlandersGreeceMamlukMughalOttomanOttonianArmenianByzantineAbbasidQajarRajputChristianArabicAustrianDutchEgyptianFatimidGermanIndianIslamicPersianSafavidTimuridTurkishUmayyadEnglishFrenchFlemishEthiopianCarolingianCalligraphyChartsColophonHeadpieceIlluminationIllustrationMedallionMiniatureOrnamentPainting'Kufic'Early Abbasid scriptRaginiRomanesqueGothicWatermarkTreasure BindingGrotesquesHistoriated initialInhabited initialCarolingian MinusculeGothic Book handWhite-vine letteringEnglish secretaryTexturaBatardaHumanisticUncialAccordion bookAlbumBookCodexManuscriptHeraldrySaint's LifeDrawingGrisailleOriginal BindingBindingNew Abbasid styleLiturgicalDevotionalScripturalTheologicalLegalHistoricalScientificScientific -- MedicalLiterary -- ProseLiterary -- PoetryPhilosophicalAstrologicalSufiEnglishBookCodexColophonIlluminationIllustrationIranIslamicManuscriptPersianSafavidWalters Art MuseumQajarLiterature -- Poetry