Sign of the zodiac featuring the Moon in
21.
Cancer (plate 36).
141.
Sign of the zodiac featuring the eclipse
Detail from the so-called Wade Cup, north-
pseudo-planet (al-jawzahar) at the points
west Iran. First quarter of the thirteenth cen-
of exaltation of its head or tail in Gemini
tury. Copper alloy, silver inlay. Cleveland
(plate 35).
Museum of Art, inv. no 1944.485. After Rice,
Detail from the body of a ewer, possibly Herat.
1955, p. 18, fig. 14b (drawing).
Late twelfth or early thirteenth century.
148.
Sol and Luna above a pair of addorsed
Copper al oy, inlay in silver, copper and prob-
winged regardant dragons (plate 36).
ably niello. Height 44.5 cm. Formerly in the
Detail from a basin of the atābeg Badr al-Dīn
Nuhad Es-Said Col ection, now in the National
Luʾluʾ, Mosul. 618/1222–657/1259. Copper
Museum of Qatar in Doha. Photograph by
alloy, silver inlay. Munich, Bayerische Staats-
courtesy of James Allan.
bibliothek. After Saxl, 1912, p. 164, fig. 10 (line
142.
Sign of the zodiac featuring the planetary
drawing).
eclipse in Sagittarius shown as dragon-tailed
149.
A pair of fabulous creatures in circular
centaur (plate 35).
arrangement biting each other’s tails (plate
Detail from the body of a ewer, possibly Herat.
37).
Late twelfth or early thirteenth century.
Painting in a copy of Muḥammad ibn Umayl
Copper al oy, inlay in silver, copper and prob-
al-Ṣādiq al-Tamīmī’s Kitāb al-Māʾ al-Waraqī
282
list of illustrations
wa ’l-Arḍ al-Najmīya. c. 287/900–287/960.
thirteenth century. Woven silk. Height 38 cm,
Opaque pigment and ink on paper. India,
width 82 cm. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches
Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, State Museum. After
Museum, Schatzkammer. Photograph by
Stapleton and Ḥusain, 1933, pl. I A.
courtesy of the Kunsthistorisches Museum,
150.
A crescent and stars above a lion, encircled
Vienna.
by an ouroboros serpent (plate 37).
158.
a and b. A lattice formed by two pairs of
Seal, Iranian world. Sasanian period, probably
confronted dragons enclosing trees flanked
fifth century. Hematite. London, British
by addorsed birds (plate 81).
Museum, inv. no. 119804. After Azarpay,
Textile fragment. Putative origin: Dar-i Suf,
1978, fig. 6 (drawing after Bivar, 1969, p. 26,
Samangan province. C-14 date from 1154 to
pl. 11, DL2).
1282 (Institute of Particle Physics (ETH),
151.
The world as seen by Alexander (plate 37).
Zurich, 87.7%; 29 January, 2000). Woven silk.
Medallion from the Pala d’Oro, Constanti-
Height 28 cm, width 28 cm. Kuwait, al-Sabāh
nople. Eleventh century Enamelled silver.
Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah,
Venice, Treasury of San Marco. Drawing by
Kuwait National Museum, inv. no. LNS 519
courtesy of Scott Redford.
T.
152.
The city of Babylon enclosed by a pair of
159.
Dragons drinking from stemmed cups (plate
dragons (plate 38).
82).
Illustration from the Morgan Beatus, Fron-
Detail of the “Dragon Cloth,” lining fabric of
tispiece, Daniel Commentary. Kingdom of
the coronation mantle of king Roger II of
Léon, probably Tábara (for San Miguel de
Sicily and southern Italy. Perhaps thirteenth
Escalada). c. 940–945. Illuminated by Maius.
century. Woven silk. Two sections, each
New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, Ms. M.
height 50 cm, width 42.5 cm. Vienna,
644, fol. 238v. Photograph by courtesy of the
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Schatzkammer.
Pierpont Morgan Library, New York.
Photograph by courtesy of the Kunsthistori-
153.
A pair of confronted winged dragons with
sches Museum, Vienna.
forelegs flanking a human bust (?) and
160.
A pair of dragons drinking from stemmed
enclosing a large medallion containing a star
cups (plate 82).
pattern (plate 78).
Detail of the relief carving above the southern
Relief carving of a wooden door (central ver-
outer door, monastery of Mār Behnām/Deir
tical section replaced in the style of the orig-
al-Khiḍr, southeast of Mosul. Thirteenth
inal), Tigris region, the Jazīra. First half of the
century. Photograph by courtesy of Yasser
thirteenth century. Height 168 cm, width 102
Tabbaa.
cm. Berlin, Museum für Islamische Kunst, inv.
161.
A pair of confronted serpents drinking from
no. I.1989.43. Photograph by courtesy of the
a chalice (plate 83).
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Preußischer Kul-
Canon table in the Vani Gospels, Constanti-
turbesitz, Museum für Islamische Kunst,
nople. c. 1200. Transcribed by the scribe
Berlin.
Iovane for queen Tʿamar of Georgia and illu-
154.
A pair of dragons enclosing a large medal-
minated by the chrysographer Michael
lion containing a star pattern (plate 78).
Koresis. Height 28.5 cm, width 19.5 cm. For-
Relief carving, Anatolia. First half of the thir-
merly in Georgia, Tbilisi, National Centre of
teenth century. Konya, İnce Minare Müzesi,
Manuscripts, Ms. A 1335, fol. 4r (detail); pre-
inv. no. 5817.
sented as diplomatic gift to Yerevan, now in
155.
Intertwined dragons and epigraphic bands
the Matenadaran Manuscript Museum. Pho-
framing a seated couple (plate 79).
tograph by courtesy of the Matenadaran
Bowl, Iran. Early thirteenth century. Fritware
Manuscript Museum, Yerevan.
painted in lustre on an opaque white glaze.
162.
A winged dragon protome (plate 39).
Height 8.2 cm, diameter 32.5 cm. The Harvey
Top of a jug handle. Provenance unknown.
B. Plotnick Collection, Chicago. Photograph
Late seventh or early eighth century. Gold.
by courtesy of the Harvey B. Plotnick Collec-
Height 30.5 cm. Moscow, Historical Museum.
tion, Chicago.
163.
A maenad feeding a serpent from a calyx-
156.
A pair of double-headed confronted dragons
like vessel (plate 83).
enclosing a double-headed eagle and two
Dish, Byzantium. Sixth century. Gilded silver.
dragon-tailed lions (plate 79).
Diameter 26 cm. Ex-S.G. Stroganov Collec-
Textile fragment, preserved as relic cover of
tion, St. Petersburg; acq. in 1911 from M.G.
Saint Amandus, Western Central Asia. Elev-
Shcherbatova. St. Petersburg, State Hermitage
enth or early twelfth century Woven silk.
Museum, inv. no. GE 285. Photograph by
Riggisberg, Abegg-Stiftung, inv. no. 1141.
courtesy of the State Hermitage Museum, St.
Photograph by courtesy of the Abegg-Stiftung,
Petersburg.
Riggisberg.
164.
A quadruped dragon drinking from a cup
157.
a and b. The “Bird Cloth” (plate 80).
(plate 39).
Lining fabric of the coronation mantle of king
Relief carving, Gandhāra region. First or
Roger II of Sicily and southern Italy. Perhaps
second century AD. Schist. Pakistan,
list of illustrations
283
Peshawar Museum. Photograph by courtesy
174.
A pair of confronted dragons with a quad-
of Isao Kurita.
ripartite knot (plate 41).
165.
A pair of entwined quadruped dragons (plate
Detail from a talismanic bowl. Twelfth to four-
84).
teenth century. Copper alloy. Height 3.4 cm,
Relief carving on the inscribed memorial
diameter 10.5 cm. Toronto, Royal Ontario
stele of Köl Tigin. Eastern Turkish empire.
Museum, inv. no. 976.34. After Ittig, 1982,
c. 732. Height 333 cm, width 132 cm, thick-
pls. II–VII.
ness 46 cm. Mongolia, Archangajin Province,
175.
A pair of confronted dragons with a quad-
Chöshöö Cajdam.
ripartite knot (plate 41).
166.
One of a pair of entwined quadruped drag-
Relief carving on the hospital (darüşşifa),
ons (plate 84).
Çankırı. 633/1235. Height 25 cm, width 100
Fragment of a relief carved monumental stele,
cm. Line drawing by courtesy of the Turkish
Qarabalghasun. Uighur empire, 744–840,
Historical Society.
probably after 761.
176.
A personification of the Moon enclosed
167.
A pair of upright confronted quadruped
within interlaced dragons (plate 85).
dragons with a quadripartite knot (plate 40).
Detail of the right half of the double-page
Wall painting, Shorchuk. Sixth to eighth cen-
frontispiece painting in the Kitāb al-diryāq,
tury. After Stein, 1921, vol. 1, Pl. CXXVI, Mi.
Mosul (?), the Jazīra. Rabīʿ al-awwal of the
xviii, 0014).
year 595/31 December 1198–29 January 1199.
168.
A pair of addorsed quadruped dragons with
Opaque pigment and ink on paper. Paris,
a quadripartite knot (plate 40).
Bibliothèque Nationale, Ms. Arabe 2964; cur-
Wall painting, Bezeklik. Probably tenth cen-
rent pagination 36–37. Photograph by cour-
tury. After Grünwedel, 1912, fig. 590.
tesy of the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.
169.
A pair of confronted double-headed dragons
177.
A musician with a dragon-headed stringed
with a quadripartite knot (plate 85).
instrument (plate 86).
Matrix. Putative origin: Minaret of Jam, Ghūr.
Detail of an enthronement scene of a Mongol
Late eleventh century. Matrix from a set of
ruler, Tabriz (?). First quarter of the four-
77 copper alloy matrices for belt/strap fittings.
teenth century. Opaque pigment on paper.
Length 10.62 cm, width 5.98 cm, thickness
Height 38.8 cm, width 29.2 cm. Berlin, Staats-
1.74 cm. Kuwait, al-Sabāh Collection, Dar al-
bibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kultur-
Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait National
besitz, Orientabteilung, Ms. Diez A fol. 70, p.
Museum, inv. no. 2559 J.
21 (detail). Photograph by courtesy of the
170.
A pair of confronted dragons with forelegs
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kul-
with a Herakles knot (plate 40).
turbesitz, Orientabteilung.
Fragment of a relief frieze, iwan, Temple II,
178.
a and b. A musician with a dragon-headed
Panjikent. Possibly late seventh or early eighth
stringed instrument (plate 87).
century. Clay. Height 27 cm, diameter 18 cm.
Wall painting, Panjikent. Eight century.
Excavated in 1952. Tajikistan, Panjikent
Dushanbe National Museum.
Museum. After Belenizkii, 1980, fig. 92.
179.
Two pairs of interlaced confronted dragons
171.
A pair of confronted dragons with a quad-
(plate 87).
ripartite knot (plate 85).
Relief carving around the wall arch above the
Sphero-conical vessel, Golden Horde (Juchi
altar in the funerary chapel of Surb Grigor,
Ulus). Probably late twelfth or early thirteenth
monastic complex of Noravankʿ, Vayots Dzor.
century. Unglazed earthenware. Moscow,
1275.
State Historical Museum.
180.
“The Perils of Life” (plate 42).
172.
Pairs of confronted dragons with quadri-
Illustration from the Kalīla wa Dimna, Bagh-
partite knots (plate 41).
dad (?). 663/1265–679/1280. Opaque pigment
Jug with filter, northern Syria. Twelfth or thir-
on paper. Fol.: height 29.9 cm, width 26.9 cm;
teenth century. Unglazed earthenware. Height
painting: height 19.7 cm, width 12.7 cm.
13.5 cm. Damascus, National Museum, inv.
Rabat, Bibliothèque Royale, Ms. 3655, fol. 17
no. 1462 A. After À l’ombre d’Avicenne, 1996,
B. After O’Kane, 2003, fig. 8.
p. 204, cat. no. 128.
181.
The angel Abi ’l-Ḥanaf as crowned lion rider
173.
A pair of addorsed dragons with a quadri-
holding a dragon-sceptre (plate 42).
partite knot (plate 41).
Painting in a copy of Nāṣir al-Dīn Muḥammad
Bowl, Raqqa. Late twelfth or thirteenth cen-
ibn Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbdallāh al-Rummal al-
tury. Earthenware, underglaze painted in blue
Muʿaẓẓam al-Saʿatī al-Haykalī, Daqāʾiq
and black. Diameter 12.7 cm. New York, Met-
al-Ḥaqāʾiq, Aksaray. Mid- to late thirteenth
ropolitan Museum of Art, acc. no. 20.52.3.
century (variously dated 10 Ramaḍān 670/10
Photograph by courtesy of the Metropolitan
April 1272 and mid-Shawwāl 671/early May
Museum of Art, New York.
1273); illustrations of various dates. Paris,
284
list of illustrations
Bibliothèque Nationale, Ms. Persan 174, fol.
191.
Four dragon heads issuing from a vegetal
86r. After Barrucand, 1990–91, p. 141, fig. 36.
interlace (plate 44).
182.
A dragon-handled cup (plate 88).
Marginal ornament from a collection of ser-
Thirteenth century. Gold. Height 4.68 cm,
mons, monastery of Surb Karapet, Baghesh.
diameter 13 cm. Siberian Collection of Peter
Thirteenth century. Illustrated by the scribe
the Great, assembled in the Kunstkammer
John (Yovhannes). MS 1522, 570 folios, fol.
(Cabinet of Curios) in 1716 and later given
161b. After Mnatsakanyan, 1955, fig. 1030.
to the State Hermitage Museum, St. Peters-
192.
A dragon head in a rinceau of animal heads
(plate 44).
burg. St. Petersburg, State Hermitage Museum,
Side panel flanking the portal of the Sunqur
inv. no. GE Sar 1625. Photograph by courtesy
Beg Mosque, Niğde. Restored in 736/1335 by
of the State Hermitage Museum, St. Peters-
the Ilkhanid governor Sayf al-Dīn Sunqur Ağa.
burg.
193.
Spandrels of the headpiece filled with a
183.
A winged dragon with forelegs (plate 88).
dragon and phoenix motif (plate 89).
Buckle of a belt, Mongol empire (Ulus
Lectionary, Cilician Armenia. Copied and
Juchids), Gorodishche Krasnojarsk, Astra-
illustrated in 1286. Illustrated by the scribe
khan region. Probably early thirteenth cen-
John (Yovhannes). Yerevan, Matenadaran Ms.
tury. Silver, gilding, inlay in a black substance.
979, fol. 334. Photograph by courtesy of the
Length 6.3 cm, width 3.1 cm. St. Petersburg,
Matenadaran Manuscript Museum, Yerevan.
State Hermitage, inv. no. SO-762. Photograph
194.
A faqīr on a dragon-throne (plate 90).
by courtesy of the State Hermitage Museum,
Painting in the reconstructed manuscript of
St. Petersburg.
the section of the Jāmiʿ al-tawārīkh, fol. 268b
184.
A “Master of Dragons” (plate 88).
(detail), Tabriz. 714/1314–5. Opaque pigment
Strap-end fitting of a belt, Mongol empire
and ink on paper. Height 20.5 cm, width 10.5
(Ulus Juchids), Gorodishche Krasnojarsk,
cm. Formerly in the collection of the Royal
Astrakhan region. Probably early thirteenth
Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
century. Silver, gilding, inlay in a black sub-
London, Nasser D. Khalili Collection of
stance. Length 8 cm, width 2.9 cm. St. Peters-
Islamic Art, MSS727. Photograph by courtesy
burg, State Hermitage, inv. no. SO-762.
of the Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic
Photograph by courtesy of the State Hermit-
Art, London.
age Museum, St. Petersburg.
195.
A ruler on a dragon-throne (plate 91).
185.
A winged quadruped dragon (plate 42).
Painting from a dispersed manuscript known
Rock relief, village of Dashkasan, south of the
as the “Saray album paintings.” c. 1300.
city Zanjan, district of Viār. Probably second
Opaque pigment and ink on paper. Height 37
half of the thirteenth century. Photograph by
cm, width 26.2 cm. Istanbul, Topkapı Sarayı
courtesy of Stefano Carboni.
Müzesi, H. 2152, fol. 60b. Photograph by cour-
tesy of the Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, Istanbul.
186.
a and b. A regardant quadruped dragon
196.
Inward-facing dragon heads (plate 91).
(plate 89).
Stirrup crossbar fragment, Qaraqorum. Thir-
Two tile fragments, Takht-i Sulaimān. 1270s.
teenth century. Iron. Height 2.8 cm, width
Fritware, overglaze painted (lājvardina). Pho-
11.5 cm, thickness 1.7 cm. Mongolian Acad-
tograph by courtesy of the Staatliche Museen
emy of Sciences, Ulan Batar, find. no. Kar
zu Berlin Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Museum
1–00/01. After Dschingis Khan und seine
für Islamische Kunst, Berlin.
Erben, 2005, pp. 166–167, cat. no. 151.
187.
a and b. A winged quadruped dragon (plate
197.
Farīdūn in the guise of a dragon testing his
43).
three sons (plate 92).
Relief carving around the torus of the round
Painting in a copy of the so-called “Small
capitals, Takht-i Sulaimān. 1270s. Red sand-
Shāh-nāma” group of manuscripts. c. 1300.
stone. After Naumann, 1977, pp. 89–90, figs.
Opaque pigment and ink on paper. Washing-
69 and 70.
ton, DC, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Gal-
188.
A dragon protome (plate 43).
lery of Art, F1929.28, f. 007r. Photograph by
Relief carving, Kondui palace, Transbaikal
courtesy of the Freer Gallery of Art, Wash-
region. Thirteenth or fourteenth century.
ington, DC.
Granite. After Kiselev, 1965, p. 336, fig. 177.
198.
A pair of confronted horsemen killing a
189.
A dragon protome (plate 43).
dragon and an anthropomorphic figure rep-
Relief carving, Kondui palace, Transbaikal
resenting Satan (plate 92).
region. Thirteenth or fourteenth century.
Relief carving on the lintel above the royal
Gr anite. After Kiselev, 1965, p. 337, fig. 178.
door leading to the burial chamber of Saint
190.
A dragon head projecting from amidst a
Behnām, monastery of Mār Behnām/Deir
cluster of animal heads (plate 44).
al-Khiḍr, southeast of Mosul. Thirteenth cen-
Relief sculpture at the portal façade of the Gök
tury. Photograph by courtesy of Alfred
madrasa<