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The Story of Nushirwan and his Minister, "The Third Discourse on Diverse Events and Disorder in Life" from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141-1209) (verso)

Unknown Artist

1555–65

The Story of Nushirwan and his Minister, "The Third Discourse on Diverse Events and Disorder in Life" from a  Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141-1209) (verso) by Unknown Artist

Medium

ink and gold on paper

Dimensions

sheet: 32.7 × 21.8 cm · text area: 20.3 × 12.7 cm

Classification

Manuscript

Department

Islamic Art

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

Credit

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

Accession Number

1944.487.b

About this artwork

This scene is from the Makhzan al-Ashrar, the first of the Quintet. Although more historically oriented than the following poems, it served more as a vehicle for moralizing tales than for historical events. In this scene Nushirwan asks the sage Buzurgmihr to explain what the owls perched on a ruined building are saying. He explains that one owl is offering the other as many ruined cities as he likes in exchange for his daughter's hand. He thus reproves Nushirwan for his love of conquest and war ...

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