Stories of the prophets: illustrated manuscripts of Qiṣaṣ al-anbiyā ̓

This volume presents a detailed iconographic and stylistic study of a group of profusely illustrated manuscripts, from 1570's-80's. This group comprises 21 copies of three Persian texts, all entitled Stories of the Prophets. The lives and deeds of mostly biblical figures, considered by Muslims as prophets, are mentioned briefly in the Koran. They are then developed and enlarged upon in the writings of religious scholars, historians, sufi poets, and popular storytellers. The variation of literary details reflect the differences between Muslim religious trends and the debts of Islamic thinking and art, to pre-Islamic traditions and the syncretism of these various traditions with Islamic theology.