The Persian Alexander: The First Complete English Translation of the Iskandarnāma

"Alexander the Great (356-333 BC) was to capture the imagination of his contemporaries and future generations. His image abounds in various cultures and literatures - Eastern and Western - and spread around the globe through oral and literary media at an astonishing rate during late antiquity and the early Islamic period. The first Iskandarnama, or 'The Book of Alexander', now held in a private collection in Tehran, is the oldest prose version of the Alexander romance in the Persian tradition. Thought to have been written at some point between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries by an unknown author, the lively narrative recasts Alexander as Iskandar, a Muslim champion - a king and prophet, albeit flawed but heroic, and remarkably appropriated to Islam, though the historic Alexander lived and died some 1,000 years before the birth of the faith. This new English translation of the under-studied text is the first to be presented unabridged and sheds fresh light onto the shape and structure of this vital document.In so doing it invites a reconsideration of the transformation of a Western historical figure - and one-time mortal enemy of Persia - into a legendary hero adopted by Iranian historiographic myth-making. Evangelos Venetis, the translator, also offers a textual analysis, providing much-needed context and explanations on both content and subsequent reception. This landmark publication will be invaluable to students and scholars of classical Persian literature, ancient and medieval history and Middle East studies, as well as to anyone studying the Alexander tradition."--Bloomsbury Publishing Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of Plates Note on Transliteration Preface Introduction Translation Introductory Part The Expedition of Alexander the Double-Horned One to Iran to Fight Darius, the Son of Darius Alexander’s Arrival at ‘Uman and the Story Between Him and the King of ‘Uman How Alexander Went to Porus Disguised as a Messenger and the Story Between Them Alexander’s Journey to Kashmir and What Happened Between Him and Āzādbakht, the King of Kashmir, and his Daughter, Māhāfarīn The Story of Āzādbakht, the King of Kashmir, and Porus’ Daughter, Who Was Alexander’s Wife Alexander’s Journey to Ceylon and What Happened Between Him and Kayd, the King of India The Pilgrimage of Alexander to Adam’s Tomb and his Journey to the Land of Gold Alexander, the Creatures with the Hairy Feet and the War Between Them Alexander’s Arrival at Mecca and the House of the Prophet, and the Story Between Him and the People of Mecca Alexander’s Arrival in Yemen and the Story Between Him and the King of Yemen Alexander’s Journey to Egypt, the Disguise of the King of Egypt as a Messenger When He Went to Alexander, and the Story Between Him and Alexander The Story of Alexander, Who Wished to Hear Stories from the Ruler of Egypt, and the Latter’s Storytelling The Narration of the Story of King Tahtāj by the Ruler of Egypt to Alexander The Narration of the Story of the Merchant’s Son by the Ruler of Egypt to Alexander How Alexander, Disguised as a Messenger, Visited Candace, the Queen of Andalusia, and their Story Alexander’s Journey to the Land of Darkness and What Occurred There The Story of the Barrel of Wheat Found in Alexander’s Treasure House and the Life of Bahrām, his Father and their Wives Alexander’s Arrival in Turkestan by way of the Akhzar Sea, and the Story Between Him and the King of that Region The Story of the Barrel of Wheat Found in Alexander’s Treasure House and the Life of Bahrām, his Father and their Wives The Story of the Hermits with the Daughter of the King and What Happened The Storytelling of the King of the City with Alexander about Justice Alexander’s Journey to Siyavūshgard and his Story with the King of that City Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of China, the Wonders He Saw and his Story with the Kings of that Land Alexander’s Arrival as Messenger at the Court of the Khaqān of the Chinese Turkestan and the Story Between Them The Trick of the Khaqān’s Wife to Murder Him and What Occurred The Story Between the Sons of the Khaqān and Alexander, their Plan to Poison Alexander through his Concubine, and How Alexander Discovered that by Wisdom Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of Taghmāj and Alexander’s Visit to Alexander of that Land as a Messenger Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of Demons and the Cannibal Zangīs, and his War Against Them Alexander’s Arrival at the Well, his Story with the Zangī and the Maiden Who Was with Him and her Own Story Alexander’s Arrival at the Hermit’s Cloister on the Mountaintop and their Story Alexander’s Arrival in the Land of the Fairies and the Story of his Meeting with Arāqīt, the Fairy Queen, and What . . . Alexander’s Invasion into Arāqīt’s Territory and the Arrival of Arāqīt’s Uncle to her Aid The Arrival of Arāqīt’s Uncle and the Fairies at the Camp, and the Story Between Him and Alexander Alexander’s Arrival in Russia, the Story Between Him and the Russians, and the Dream He Had in that Land Alexander’s Arrival at the Fortress of Qātil the Zangī, the Story Between the King and the Zangīs, and the Seizure of the Fort The Story of Qātil the Zangī Who Sent 2,000 Men to Seek the Bride, and Alexander’s Surprise Attack on Them The Story of Rāfi‘ the Zangī, Who Came to the Aid of his Brother, and their War Against Alexander How ‘Anbar Received Qātil’s Letter, Gathered an Army and Went to the Aid of his Uncle, and the Story Between Them and Alexander How ‘Anbar Came from the Fort with 2,000 Men, and the Battle Between Alexander and the Zangīs The Sudden Assault of Buqrāquz, Shāhmalik’s Son, Against Alexander’s Camping Ground, the Capture of Buqrāquz and What Happened Between Alexander and Them Alexander’s Battle Against Qātil the Zangī and What Happened Between Them The Arrival of Mankūs and the Zangīs at Shāhmalik’s Place, the Battle Between Shāhmalik and Alexander, and What Happened Between Them Shāhmalik’s Seduction of Arāqīt for his Son, Tafqāj, and What Happened How the Cupbearer’s Wife Deceived Tafqāj and Surrendered Him to Alexander Tafqāj’s Letter to Arāqīt, How it was Discovered by Alexander and the Deterioration of the Situation The Story Between Arāqīt and Tafqāj, How She Pursued Tafqāj and the Zangīs, and their War The Trick of Shāhmalik’s Daughter to Poison Alexander, How He Discovered her Plans and What Happened How the Cupbearer’s Wife Surrendered Shāhmalik to Alexander by Means of Deceit Shāhmalik’s Capture by Alexander and his Replacement by Arslānkhān as a King The Ascendance to the Throne by Arslānkhān and What Happened Between Him and Alexander How Arāqīt and Aristotle Were Informed of Alexander’s Detention and their Plan to Rescue Him Alexander’s Return to his Camp and the End of his History with Arslānkhān The Behaviour of Tarzak, Qaymūn the Commander, Qaymāz and Ayāz After They Embraced the Faith of Alexander The Arrival of Jundūl the Zangī with the Zangīs, the Story Between Him and Alexander, and Shāhmalik’s Escape to the Zangīs The Story of Arāqīt and the Fairies’ Assault Against Shāhmalik’s Army and Shāhmalik’s Arrest Alexander’s War Against the Elephant Ears and Arslānkhān, his Displeasure with Arāqīt and How He Cast Her Away How Arāqīt Went to Zubayda’s Cloister and the Story Between Her, Alexander and Arslānkhān Alexander’s Capture by Arslānkhān at his Hunting Place and his Rescue by Arāqīt and the Army Arslānkhān’s Capture and Execution by Arāqīt, and the Conquest of the City The Story of Alexander with Yāqūtmalik, the Daughter of Arāqīt’s Uncle, the Fairies and Arāqīt Glossary of Terms, Characters and Proper Names Notes Bibliography Index Alexander the Great (356-333 BC) was to capture the imagination of his contemporaries and future generations. His image abounds in various cultures and literatures - Eastern and Western - and spread around the globe through oral and literary media at an astonishing rate during late antiquity and the early Islamic period. The first Iskandarnama, or 'The Book of Alexander', now held in a private collection in Tehran, is the oldest prose version of the Alexander romance in the Persian tradition. Thought to have been written at some point between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries by an unknown author, the lively narrative recasts Alexander as Iskandar, a Muslim champion - a king and prophet, albeit flawed but heroic, and remarkably appropriated to Islam, though the historic Alexander lived and died some 1,000 years before the birth of the faith. This new English translation of the under-studied text is the first to be presented unabridged and sheds fresh light onto the shape and structure of this vital document. In so doing it invites a reconsideration of the transformation of a Western historical figure - and one-time mortal enemy of Persia - into a legendary hero adopted by Iranian historiographic myth-making. Evangelos Venetis, the translator, also offers a textual analysis, providing much-needed context and explanations on both content and subsequent reception. This landmark publication will be invaluable to students and scholars of classical Persian literature, ancient and medieval history and Middle East studies, as well as to anyone studying the Alexander tradition Alexander the Great (356-333 BC) was to capture the imagination of his contemporaries and future generations. His image abounds in various cultures and literatures - Eastern and Western - and spread around the globe through oral and literary media at an astonishing rate during late antiquity and the early Islamic period. The first Iskandarnama, or 'The Book of Alexander', now held in a private collection in Tehran, is the oldest prose version of the Alexander romance in the Persian tradition. Thought to have been written at some point between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries by an unknown author, the lively narrative recasts Alexander as Iskandar, a Muslim champion - a king and prophet, albeit flawed but heroic, and remarkably appropriated to Islam, though the historic Alexander lived and died some 1,000 years before the birth of the faith. This new English translation of the under-studied text is the first to be presented unabridged and sheds fresh light onto the shape and structure of this vital document. In so doing it invites a reconsideration of the transformation of a Western historical figure - and one-time mortal enemy of Persia - into a legendary hero adopted by Iranian historiographic myth-making.0Evangelos Venetis, the translator, also offers a textual analysis, providing much-needed context and explanations on both content and subsequent reception. This landmark publication will be invaluable to students and scholars of classical Persian literature, ancient and medieval history and Middle East studies, as well as to anyone studying the Alexander tradition