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Alexander Mourns the Death of the Persian King, Darius III, from a manuscript of the History of Nigaristan (Kitab-i Nigaristan) by Ahmad Muhammad Ghaffari (d. 1567/8), Iran, probably Shiraz, 1573-74 CE / 980 AH, Ink, gold, and opaque watercolour on paper, AKM272
Eskandar, in the Persian tradition, was depicted as not just a Macedonian prince but also a descendent of Iranian kings. This page from the Kitab-i Nigaristan, a collection of historical anecdotes, shows Alexander kneeling beside his dying opponent,…
Manuscript of the Spiritual Words from Greek Philosophy with Sayings of the Philosophers Accompanied with Their Portraits (Al-Kalimat al-Ruhaniyya min al-Hikam al-Yunaniyya fi Kalimat al-Hukama' wa Ashkalihim)
Iraq, Baghdad, late 13th century, Attributed Calligrapher: Yaqut al-Musta'simi (d. 1290), Attributed Painter: Mahmoud b. Abi'l-Mahasin al-Qashi, Ink, gold, and opaque watercolour on paper
AKM283
These digital images, from the manuscript of Spiritual Words from Greek Philosophy with Sayings of the Philosophers Accompanied with their Portraits on view in the permanent gallery, feature wise maxims in Arabic attributed to Greek philosophers and…
Qur'an Manuscript, Copied by Mahmud Sha'ban, India, Gwalior, 11 July 1399 CE / 7 Dhu'l-Qa'da 801 AH, Ink, gold, and opaque watercolour on paper, AKM281
This signed and dated copy of the Qur'an produced in northern India near the end of the fourteenth century is a rare survivor: even though Muslims had long been settled in the region, very few manuscripts from that time and place have come down to…
Rama Speaks to the Hermit Bharadvaja Outside his Dwelling, from a Ramayana manuscript, India, Punjab Hills, Bahu or Kulu, c. 1700-10, Opaque watercolour on paper, AKM138
This version of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana uses images instead of words to tell how Rama, a manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu, struggled to defeat the demon king Ravana. On this page, Rama is exiled to the forest, but the austere sage at left…
Torah Scroll in Case, Iraq, possibly Kurdistan, 17th-18th century, case c.1907, Wood, metal, paint, vellum, ROM991.25.2
From the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto: In eastern Islamic lands, many Jewish communities mounted the parchment Torah scrolls in a rigid cylindrical case, which was often pained or covered with embossed silver. The case stood erect on the reader's…
Torah Case from the synagogue at Kaifeng, China, 17th century (Ming - Qing Dynasty), Gold-lacquered wood, ROM931.18.1
From the Royal Ontario Museum collection: This Torah case from the synagogue at Kaifeng was collected by William C. White, Anglican Bishop in Henan Province in the early 20th century. This object is part of the virtual exhibit only.
Hidden Stories Symposium
HIDDEN STORIES: GLOBAL HISTORY, LOCAL NETWORKS
Virtual Symposium: February 24-25, 2022
Join the Aga Khan Museum for a virtual symposium celebrating the exhibitionHidden Stories: Books Along the Silk Roads, featuring books, scrolls, manuscript…
Vishnu Reclining on Serpent Ananta, India, Punjab Hills, early 19th century, Watercolour and gold on paper, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 2009.10.29
The entire cycle of creation and destruction is captured in this image of the Hindu deity Vishnu in his role as preserver and renewer. As one age ends, Vishnu swallows up the universe and turns it into a formless ocean; reclining on the mighty…
Eskandar Sees the Talking Trees, From a dispersed manuscript of the Book of Kings (Shahnameh) of Firdausi (d. 1020), Uzbekistan, Bukhara, 16th century, Ink on paper and opaque watercolour
Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BCE) is known under many names, including the Persian ‘Eskandar’ depicted in manuscripts from Iran and Uzbekistan. His Macedonian origins and association with Greek culture — above all through his teacher,…
Cordiform (heart-shaped) pendant, Turkmenistan, Teke, Mid-late 19th century, Silver, fire gilded and cased, with niello inlay, decorative wire and table-cut carnelians, Loan from M. M. Wolf Collection
Inner Asia is famous for the jewelry of its more than 30 Turkmen tribes, produced in silver, decorated with talismanic inscriptions, and adorned with carnelian or turquoise. Each element--metal, writing, and precious stones--is carefully chosen to…
Amulet holder, Central Asia, 19th century, Silver, with niello inlay, table-cut carnelians
Inner Asia is famous for the jewelry of its more than 30 Turkmen tribes, produced in silver, decorated with talismanic inscriptions, and adorned with carnelian or turquoise. Each element--metal, writing, and precious stones--is carefully chosen to…
Babur Receives his Brother, Jahangir Mirza, in the Hammam of Akhsi, from a dispersed manuscript of Book of Babur (Baburnameh) North India, ca. 1590 CE, Opaque watercolour and gold on paper, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 976.306.1
This exquisite page comes from the autobiographical Baburnameh, in which Zahir al-Din Muhammad Babur, descendant of Genghis Khan and founder of the Mughal Empire, describes his many travels, victories, and losses. In this scene, the 19-year-old Babur…
Two Pages from a dispersed manuscript of Jain Scripture (Kalpa Sutra), India, Gujarat, 16th century, Ink, watercolour and gold on paper, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 2009.10.8, 2009.10.6
These two pages come from the Jain Kalpa Sutra, an important religious text that details the lives of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras (literally, 'ford-crossers'). In Jainism, it is believed that 24 religious teachers entered the world, at separate times,…
Page from a dispersed manuscript containing the Book of Genesis, China, Kaifeng, 17th-18th century, Ink on parchment, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 931.18.3.B (Bishop William C. White Collection)
Verses from the Book of Genesis appear on this page written by a member of the Jewish community of Kaifeng, China, most likely in the seventeenth or eighteenth century. Little is known about these people, who may have been the descendants of traders…
Moveable Type, Korea, 18th century, Wood, carved, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 952X90.33
Printing developed in East Asia long before it did in Europe, including both large-scale woodblocks and moveable type, and was used for imprinting patterns on textiles as well as on paper. Clay and wood type were made in China during the eleventh…
Moveable types, Korea, ca. 18th century, Wood, carved, ROM 952X90.35
Printing developed in East Asia long before it did in Europe, including both large-scale woodblocks and moveable type, and was used for imprinting patterns on textiles as well as on paper. Clay and wood type were made in China during the eleventh…
Book Case, Central Asia or Iran, early 20th century, Silver, fire-gilded with open work and table-cut carnelians, On loan from the Marshall and Marilyn R. Wolf Collection, Toronto, LI2021.30.8
According to Islam, the Qur'an offers divine protection, and the holy book has often been kept in a lavishly decorated case when not in use for recitation. Silver, the main material of this case, was thought
to possess healing properties in the…
to possess healing properties in the…
Record of the Pilgrimage Journey (Chao jin tu ji) by Ma Fuchu, China, 1861, Woodblock print on paper, AKM681
This book, on making the Islamic pilgrimage (hajj) from China to Mecca, is printed on lightweight but strong Asian paper and bound using a style traditional to China and East Asia which creates intricate geometric designs.
This version, a simple…
This version, a simple…
Khaqan Stands Before Eskandar From a dispersed manuscript of the Quintet (Khamsa) of Nizami (d. 1209), Iran, mid-16th century, Ink on paper and opaque watercolour, On loan from the Royal Ontario Museum, 938.29.3A
Alexander the Great (356 – 323 BCE) is known under many names, including the Persian ‘Eskandar’ of these manuscripts from Iran and Uzbekistan. His Macedonian origins and association with Greek culture — above all through his teacher,…