Rubaiyat of Khayyam, Persian Illustrated Manuscript

What it is

This is a catalogue record describing a manuscript of the Rubáiyát attributed to Omar Khayyám, written in Persian. The record notes it has many folios of poetry, an illuminated first page, floral decoration beside each quatrain, and is written in Fair Nastaliq script, dated to the 12th Islamic century.

Why it matters

Manuscripts like this preserve Khayyám's poetry as it circulated for centuries among Persian readers, long before it was translated into English. The careful decoration and script show that his verses were valued as both literature and art.

Look closer

• Why might a manuscript of poetry include illumination and floral designs rather than plain text?
• What does the use of a specific calligraphic script tell us about who made and used this manuscript?
• How might reading Khayyám's poetry in the original Persian differ from reading an English translation?