Persian Sindbadnama

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The Persian Sindbadnama traditions are all thought to derive from a Middle Persian (Pahlavi) original, potentially adapted from Indian material by Borzuya, translator of the Panchatantra (Perry 1960). This Pahlavi text was adapted into early New Persian several times, by such luminaries as Rudaki (Dabir Siyaqi 1955) and Daqayeqi (Zakeri 2023). However, only the version originally translated by Fanaruzi (c. 9th century CE/3rd century AH) and ornamented by Zahiri al-Samarqandi in c. 1160 CE/555 AH survives from this period of early New Persian transmission. However, it was inserted, in abridged form, into other popular fable collections, such as Nakhshabi’s Tutinama and Daqayeqi's Bakhtiarnama. These abridgements tend to conform far more to the Makr al Nisa/wiles of women genre in which the 9th century Arab historian al Yaqubi places the Sindbad tradition than does Zahiri's version, potentially suggesting a closer link to the original Middle Persian tradition. Later, in 1374, the Shirazi belletrist and courtier Azod Yazdi versified Zahiri's version for the govenor of Shiraz, Tamerlane's son Shah Rukh. Of these different surviving versions, Zahiri's version seems to have been by far the most popular and sought after, particularly in the Ottoman Empire.

Identification and general Information
Title
Author

Tradition and Lineage
Branch of the tradition	Book of Sindbad
Adapted from (version)
Adapted into (version)	Nakhshabi Tutinama, Zahiri al Samarqandi, Sindbadnama, Azod Yazdi versification, Bakhtiarnama abridgement
Source for composition and adaptation information

Recorded secondary versions
Persian Sindbadnama Azod Yazdi versification Bakhtiarnama abridgement Nakhshabi abridgement Zahiri al Samarqandi, Sindbadnama

Connected manuscripts

Has Language Has Location Has Date Range Of Production Amasya Bayezid İl Halk Kütüphanesi, MS 750. Persian Amasya Bayezid İl Halk Kütüphanesi 1601 - 1800 London British Library IO Islamic 3214 Persian London, British Library 1575/85 London British Library Or. 225 Persian London, British Library 1622 CE Royal Asiatic Society (MS P.337) Persian Library of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1785 Süleymaniye Kütüphanesi, AE Farsça 1062 Persian Süleymaniye Kütüphanesi, Istanbul 1675/6 Topkapı Sarayı, Istanbul (Ahmet III 2990) Persian Istanbul, Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi Kütüphanesi 1208 - 1209 Topkapı Sarayı, Istanbul (Fātiḥ 3682) Persian Istanbul, Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi Kütüphanesi 1375 - 1400

Language and Composition
Language of version	Persian
Regional or specific language of version	Dari (Insha)
Translated into (languages)
Place of composition
Date of composition
Islamic date of composition
Hebrew date of composition
Source for date of composition

Modern Scholarship and Editions
Modern research literature	Perry (1960), Zakeri (2023), Dabir Siyaqi (1955), (see specific versions for more)
Modern Editions

Notes and Commentary
Note

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Connected prints
No connected prints