Cleveland Museum of Art

Nushirwan Listens to the Owls (recto); the Story of Nushirwan and his Minister, "The Third Discourse on Diverse Events and Disorder in Life" (verso) from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141–1209)

Date: 1555–65
Medium: opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Culture: Iran, Qazvin, Safavid period (1501-1722)
Department: Islamic Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art

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 and the consequent destruction of many cities. King Nushirwan is on a white horse, while his minister Buzurjmihr is riding a mule.

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