1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910511665403321

Autore

Manteghi Haila

Titolo

Alexander the Great in the Persian tradition : history, myth and legend in medieval Iran / / by Haila Manteghi

Pubbl/distr/stampa

London ; ; New York : , : Bloomsbury Publishing, , 2018

ISBN

1-350-98523-6

1-78673-366-8

1-78672-366-2

Edizione

[First edition.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (264 pages, 8 pages of plates) : illustrations (some color), tables

Collana

Library of medieval studies ; ; 8

Disciplina

860.9351

Soggetti

Literature and folklore - Iran

Literature and history - Iran

Persian literature - Themes, motives

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Chapter 1. Greek and Syriac Versions of the Alexander Romance and Their Development in the East -- Chapter 2. Alexander the Great and the Legacy of Sasanian Historiography -- Chapter 3. Alexander the Great in the ShĀhnĀma of Firdawsī -- Chapter 4. Alexander in the IskandarnĀma of NiẒĀmĪ GanjavĪ (1141-1209) -- Chapter 5. Alexander in the IqbĀlnĀma of NiẒĀmĪ GanjavĪ -- Conclusion -- Summary of the Syriac Alexander Romance -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index -- Plates.

Sommario/riassunto

"Alexander the Great (356-333 BC) was transformed into a legend by all those he met, leaving an enduring tradition of romances across the world. Aside from its penetration into every language of medieval Europe, the Alexander romance arguably had its greatest impact in the Persian language.Haila Manteghi here offers a complete survey of that deep tradition, ranging from analysis of classical Persian poetry to popular romances and medieval Arabic historiography. She explores how the Greek work first entered the Persian literary tradition and traces the development of its influence, before revealing the remarkable way in which Alexander became as central to the Persian



tradition as any other hero or king. And, importantly, by focusing on the often-overlooked early medieval Persian period, she also demonstrates that a positive view of Alexander developed in Arabic and Persian literature before the Islamic era. Drawing on an impressive range of sources in various languages - including Persian, Arabic and Greek - Manteghi provides a profound new contribution to the study of the Alexander romances.Beautifully written and with vibrant literary motifs, this book is important reading for all those with an interest in Alexander, classical and medieval Persian history, the early Islamic world and classical reception studies."--Bloomsbury Publishing.