A descriptive and analytical catalogue of Persian manuscripts in the library of the Wellcome Institute of Medicine / by Fateme Keshavarz.

  • Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine
Date:
1986
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: A descriptive and analytical catalogue of Persian manuscripts in the library of the Wellcome Institute of Medicine / by Fateme Keshavarz. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The earliest poet represented in the collection is Firdawsi of Tus (322-411/933-1020), by partial copies of his famous epic the Shäh'nämah , the most complete of which is illustrated with 26 miniature paintings (undated; perhaps 17th century). 11 Sa e dT of Shiraz (580-691/1184-1291) should also be mentioned, since one copy — - - 19 of his Bustan and three of his Gulistan are in the collection. Among other poets is Häfiz of Shiraz (d. 791 or 792/1388 or 1389) - - 13 whose Divan is represented by four fragmentary, and one complete 14 copy. This last, neatly transcribed and dated A.H. 1046/LA.D. 1636]. contains the preface written by the poet's friend Muhammad Gul'andäm - - 15 who collected and edited the Divan . A poet with medical interests Because of the medical emphasis of the Wellcome collection, of all the poets who are represented, special attention should be devoted to Khäqäni of Shirvan (Afzal al-Dln Ibrahim b. c AlI, d. 589 or 595/ 1193 or 1198). He is a poet celebrated for the difficulty and erudi tion of his verse, largely due to his extensive knowledge of meta physics, astrology, mathematics and medicine. The poet at an early age had been left in the care of an uncle able to instruct him in 16 these subjects, as well as in the Arabic language. This specialized 11 WMS.Per.483. 12 WMS.Per.67, 128, 501 and 427. 13 WMS.Per.76(B), 196, 230, and 366. 14 WMS.Per.417. 15 Edward G. Browne, A literary history of Persia . Cambridge, 1902-24, Vol.Ill, p.272.