Lot 189 AN ILLUSTRATED ARABIC AND PERSIAN ASTROLOGICAL AND TALISMANIC MANUSCRIPT, "DHAKHIRAT AL-ISKANDAR", 18TH CENTURY

An Arabic and Persian manuscript on paper, each folio carefully inscribed in black nasta'liq and naskh scripts, with titles and catchwords elegantly rendered in red ink. The volume is housed in a deep brown leather binding and measures 17 × 25 cm.

It is richly illustrated with 32 miniature paintings, reflecting a vibrant visual tradition. The illustrations depict a fascinating array of subjects, including mythical creatures, astrological signs, and animals. Among these are birds, bulls, and serpents; one striking image portrays a female rider mounted upon the Capricorn sea-goat, while another shows a woman endowed with a scorpion’s tail. The most unusual composition presents a man and a woman adorned respectively with phallic and vulvar motifs, contributing to the manuscript’s vivid, eclectic, and symbolic visual language.

The work is identified as Dhakhirat al-Iskandar al-Malik ibn Filiqs Dhi al-Qarnayn, a richly illustrated astrological and talismanic compendium. Traditionally attributed to Aristotle and said to have been composed for his illustrious pupil Alexander the Great, the text is believed to have been translated into Arabic at the behest of the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim.

The manuscript comprises a structured body of esoteric knowledge, traditionally associated with Alexander, revered in certain traditions as Dhu al-Qarnayn. Organized into ten chapters, it surveys a wide spectrum of ancient sciences and occult practices. The opening sections establish foundational principles, preparing the reader for more specialized discussions that follow. Subsequent chapters explore alchemical processes, including the preparation of elixirs and the transformation of substances. Considerable attention is given to the study of poisons and their antidotes, outlining both harmful compounds and methods of healing and protection. The text also addresses talismanic practices and spiritual safeguards intended to ward off danger. Astronomical and astrological themes emerge in discussions of the seven classical planets and their perceived influences. Further sections delve into occult disciplines, such as the crafting of talismans and the ritual use of incense, believed to hold both spiritual and practical efficacy. In its concluding portions, the manuscript turns to the natural world, offering observations on plants and animals—likely in relation to their medicinal, symbolic, and utilitarian significance—thus completing a work that seamlessly blends science, mysticism, and imagination.