These animals were frequently illustrated in Islamic manuscripts, paintings, and decorative art. Get ready for a double thread! :)
The roc, or rukh, is shown in these two illustrations saving travelers from the ocean. The first is from a late 14th c. 'Aja'ib al-makluqat held by the Freer (f. 63a), The second is from a 1632 version of the same text (Rylands Persian MS 3, f. 70b)
The beautiful Simurgh is so commonly illustrated that I'll choose some of my favorites! First is from the late 13th c. Kitab Manafi al-Hayawan (Pierpont Morgan MS M 500, f. 55a), second is an 18th c. album painting held by the Topkapi museum (TSM H. 2134)
The Simurgh was also a motif frequently used to illustrate tiles. The first is a cuerda seca ware tile with a simurgh fighting a deer (private collection), and the second is a lajvardina ware star tile with a simurgh motif at the Sackler Gallery (S1997.114)
This is just a taste to get us started— other responsibilities call, but I will continue later! 😉
Ok, back! Next up is Konrul. In art, it's often portrayed interchangeably with Simurgh, but here are a few phoenixes from Turkish sources. This is a detail of the decoration on the yatagan (sword) of Suleyman the magnificent (Topkapi 2/3776)
The second possible portrayal of Konrul is from the Matli' al-sa'ada, Book of Felicity, translated into Turkish for Fatima, daughter of Sultan Murad III in 1582 (Bibl. Nat Suppl. turc. 242, f. 81b-82a). It shows a flaming phoenix, perhaps being summoned by burning its feathers?
For Bahamut and Kuyutha/Kiyuban, we again turn to the treasure trove of Qazwini's Aja'ib al-Makhluqat (Wonders of Creation) for this gorgeous image of them holding up the world, in a 15th c. manuscript held in the Topkapi Palace Museum (TSK A. 3632)
I didn't find Dendan specifically, but many heroes battle sea monsters. Here is a favorite of mine, from the Diez Albums, compilations of painted mss. folios held by the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (SBB Diez A, fol. 71). Love the rope: safety first!
I looked and looked for Tabib al-Bahr, because I love it, but couldn't find anything obvious. Anyone? Here's a mermaid to tide you over, from the Princeton Univ. Library's 15th c. mss. (prob. later illustrations) of 'Aja'ib al-Makhluqat, Garrett no. 82G
So this illustration says that's it's a Nasnas but seems to portray a beautiful woman, not a terrifying creature. @aaolomi have you come across this interpretation? From a 15th c. Chahar Maqala by Nizami Aruzi, Turk ve Islam Eserleri Muzesi 1954, f. 6b
@aaolomi I love this portrayal of a Daval-pa and his elastic appendages, from the Harvard Art Museums' own 17th c. manuscript of the 'Aja'ib al-Makhluqat (HAm 1972.3, f. 95).
@aaolomi This delicate watercolor portraying the Shadhavar, of a very unique style, is from the Rylands version of the 'Aja'ib (Persian MS 37, f. 257b). The text is from 1440.
@aaolomi This lovely portrayal of al-mir'aj, from a 13th c. mss. of the 'Aja'ib held by the Bavarian State Library (Cod. arab. 464) shows it next to the serpent Alexander is said to have defeated in order to win the horned rabbit as a prize!
@aaolomi Karkadans (suspected to be rhinos) are portrayed in two different ways here: something quite akin to a rhino in the 16th c. Turkish version of the 'Aja'ib at the Walters (Ms. W.659, fol. 112a), and something.. stranger... in the Rylands MS 37 (f. 367b)
@aaolomi I couldn't find a specific reference to Siranis, but I did find something called a "rhino-wolf," which could be either this or a Karkadan, shown being slain by Bahram-i Gur in Shah Tahmasp's Shahnama, f. 586a (MEt, New York, 1970.301.65)
@aaolomi The battle between the great serpent slain and the Prophet's son-in-law 'Ali is shown here, from the 16th c. Siyer-i Nebi (Life of the Prophet) at the Topkapi Library (TSK H. 1223), f. 70b
Gah! @aaolomi has defeated me, this thread is too long to finish in a day! Maybe I will return to it next week, but I hope you've enjoyed thus far! All these images are available on Harvard's Hollis Images or from the holding institutions websites, feel free to ask for more info!
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