The Persian Alexander : the first complete English translation of the Iskandarnāma

Bibliographic Information

The Persian Alexander : the first complete English translation of the Iskandarnāma

Evangelos Venetis

(International library of Iranian studies, 69)

I.B. Tauris, 2018

  • : hbk

Other Title

Iskandarnāmah

Uniform Title

Niẓāmī Ganjavī, 1140 or 41-1202 or 3 -- Iskandarnāmah

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Note

Translated from the Persian

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Alexander the Great (356-333 BC) was to capture the imagination of his contemporaries and future generations. His image abounds in various cultures and literatures - Eastern and Western - and spread around the globe through oral and literary media at an astonishing rate during late antiquity and the early Islamic period. The first Iskandarnama, or 'The Book of Alexander', now held in a private collection in Tehran, is the oldest prose version of the Alexander romance in the Persian tradition. Thought to have been written at some point between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries by an unknown author, the lively narrative recasts Alexander as Iskandar, a Muslim champion - a king and prophet, albeit flawed but heroic, and remarkably appropriated to Islam, though the historic Alexander lived and died some 1,000 years before the birth of the faith. This new English translation of the under-studied text is the first to be presented unabridged and sheds fresh light onto the shape and structure of this vital document.In so doing it invites a reconsideration of the transformation of a Western historical figure - and one-time mortal enemy of Persia - into a legendary hero adopted by Iranian historiographic myth-making. Evangelos Venetis, the translator, also offers a textual analysis, providing much-needed context and explanations on both content and subsequent reception. This landmark publication will be invaluable to students and scholars of classical Persian literature, ancient and medieval history and Middle East studies, as well as to anyone studying the Alexander tradition.

Table of Contents

TRANSLATION Introductory Part 11 The Expedition of Alexander the Double-Horned One to Iran to Fight Darius, the Son of Darius 12 Alexander’s Arrival at ‘Uman and the Story Between Him and the King of ‘Uman 15 How Alexander Went to Porus Disguised as a Messenger and the Story Between Them 16 Alexander’s Journey to Kashmir and What Happened Between Him and A¯ za¯dbakht, the King of Kashmir, and his Daughter, Ma¯ha¯far?¯n 20 The Story of A¯ za¯dbakht, the King of Kashmir, and Porus’ Daughter, Who Was Alexander’s Wife 25 Alexander’s Journey to Ceylon and What Happened Between Him and Kayd, the King of India 35 The Pilgrimage of Alexander to Adam’s Tomb and his Journey to the Land of Gold 48 Alexander, the Creatures with the Hairy Feet and the War Between Them 52 Alexander’s Arrival at Mecca and the House of the Prophet, and the Story Between Him and the People of Mecca 54 Alexander’s Arrival in Yemen and the Story Between Him and the King of Yemen 56 Alexander’s Journey to Egypt, the Disguise of the King of Egypt as a Messenger When He Went to Alexander, and the Story Between Him and Alexander 68 The Story of Alexander, Who Wished to Hear Stories from the Ruler of Egypt, and the Latter’s Storytelling 77 The Narration of the Story of King Tahta¯j by the Ruler of Egypt to Alexander 88 The Narration of the Story of the Merchant’s Son by the Ruler of Egypt to Alexander 92 How Alexander, Disguised as a Messenger, Visited Candace, the Queen of Andalusia, and their Story 96 Alexander’s Journey to the Land of Darkness and What Occurred There 102 The Story of the Scorpion, the Snake and the Youth Who Was Sleeping in the Garden, and the Wonder that Alexander Experienced 105 Alexander’s Arrival in Turkestan by way of the Akhzar Sea, and the Story Between Him and the King of that Region 108 The Story of the Barrel of Wheat Found in Alexander’s Treasure House and the Life of Bahra¯m, his Father and their Wives 109 The Story of the Hermits with the Daughter of the King and What Happened 112 The Storytelling of the King of the City with Alexander about Justice 115 Alexander’s Journey to Siyavu¯ shgard and his Story with the King of that City 116 Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of China, the Wonders He Saw and his Story with the Kings of that Land 120 Alexander’s Arrival as Messenger at the Court of the Khaqa¯n of the Chinese Turkestan and the Story Between Them 121 The Trick of the Khaqa¯n’s Wife to Murder Him and What Occurred 136 The Story Between the Sons of the Khaqa¯n and Alexander, their Plan to Poison Alexander through his Concubine, and How Alexander Discovered that by Wisdom 140 Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of Taghma¯j and Alexander’s Visit to Alexander of that Land as a Messenger 146 Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of Demons and the Cannibal Zang?¯s, and his War Against Them 151 Alexander’s Arrival at the Well, his Story with the Zang?¯ and the Maiden Who Was with Him and her Own Story 158 Alexander’s Arrival at the Hermit’s Cloister on the Mountaintop and their Story 161 Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of the Fairies and the Story of his Meeting with Ara¯q?¯t, the Fairy Queen, and What . . . 164 viii The Persian Alexander Alexander’s Invasion into Ara¯q?¯t’s Territory and the Arrival of Ara¯q?¯t’s Uncle to her Aid 178 The Arrival of Ara¯q?¯t’s Uncle and the Fairies at the Camp, and the Story Between Him and Alexander 180 Alexander’s Arrival in Russia, the Story Between Him and the Russians, and the Dream He Had in that Land 189 Alexander’s Arrival at the Fortress of Qa¯til the Zang?¯, the Story Between the King and the Zang?¯s, and the Seizure of the Fort 193 The Story of Qa¯til the Zang?¯ Who Sent 2,000 Men to Seek the Bride, and Alexander’s Surprise Attack on Them 200 The Story of Ra¯fi‘ the Zang?¯, Who Came to the Aid of his Brother, and their War Against Alexander 207 How ‘Anbar Received Qa¯til’s Letter, Gathered an Army and Went to the Aid of his Uncle, an

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