Persian Sindbadnama

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The Persian Sindbadnama traditions are all thought to derive from a Middle Persian (Pahlavi) original. Older scholarship presumed an Indian source for this, but no Sanskrit texts have been found as evidence of this (Krönung (2016).

The 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.


Tradition & Lineage

Branch of the tradition
Book of Sindbad
Adapted into (version)
Nakhshabi Tutinama, Zahiri al Samarqandi, Sindbadnama, Azod Yazdi versification, Bakhtiarnama abridgement

Recorded Secondary Versions

Connected Manuscripts

Language & Composition

Language of version
Persian
Regional or specific language of version
Dari (Insha)


Date of Composition


Modern Scholarship & Editions

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

Notes & Commentary

Note
Roughly 50% of the early manuscripts are to be found in Iranian libraries, who did not reply before the completion of this database. Below is a list of manuscripts in Iranian libraries whose existence can be confirmed:


Tehran, Danishgah 964/1556-57         

Teheran, Danishgah 272

Teheran, Danishgah 46 ع

Teheran, Dehkhoda 268

Teheran, Adabiyyat 132-d

Qom, Gulpaygani 36/199–8199

Mashhad, Āstān-i Quds-i Raḍavī  MS 9415

               

Pattern of Embedded Stories in This Version
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