The Story of Adam, peace upon him, his Sons and Progeny, from a Jami al-tavarikh (Compendium of Chronicles) of Rashid al-din (verso)
Unknown Artist
c. 1425
Medium
opaque watercolor and ink on paper
Dimensions
42 × 32 cm · image: 14.7 × 22.7 cm
Classification
Manuscript
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1945.384.b
About this artwork
This illustrated page from a history book depicts a scene from the narrative of Adam and Eve, expanding on the story as it is recorded in the Qur'an. According to the text, among Eve’s many children were two sets of twins: Cain and his sister Iqlima, and Abel and his sister Labuda. When Cain objected to Adam’s decision that Iqlima should marry Abel, Adam decreed that the brothers should settle the matter by making sacrificial offerings. A divine fire in the form of a bird appeared and chose Abel...