Islamic Mythical Bird, Simurgh, 17th Century

A simurgh ('anqa, a mythical bird) and, above, a bird that appears to be a hoopoe but is labeled aq'aq (magpie). From Aja'ib al-makhluqat wa-ghara'ib al-mawjudat (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) by Abu Yahya Zakariya ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini (1203-1283) an Arab physician, astronomer, geographer and proto-science fiction writer. Neither the copyist nor illustrator is named, and the copy is undated. The nature of paper, script, ink, illumination, and illustrations suggest that it was produced in provincial Mughal India, possibly the Punjab, in the 17th century

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1537 Ajaib Al Makhluqat Al Mawjudat Al Qazwini Al-makhluqat Al-mawjudat Al-qazwini Allah Arabic Aspects Demon Existing Ghara Legendary Magpie Makhluqat Marvels Mawjudat Miraculous Muhammad Mythic Mythical Qazwini Sentient Supernatural Wa-gharaib Yahya Zakariya

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