Persian News: 2,000 Persian Manuscripts at the University of Leiden, Netherlands

December 3, 2008

by Suzan Abrams


Dutch professor Jan Just Witkam, who is an expert of codicology and paleography - the study of ancient writing - of the Islamic world said in Tehran today that the University of Leiden in the Netherlands currently houses over 2,000 Persian manuscripts. Of the 27,000 inscriptions, 7,000 copies are oriental manuscripts. Among the preserved collection are two rare copies of masterpieces; one a book of mathemathics by Omar Khayyam best known for his poetic masterpiece titled The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (pictured right) and the other, a famous world classic Ferdowsi's Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) made up of "beautiful, intricate descriptions and unique artwork" as reported by Witkam.

Witkam lectures in archaeology at the College of Arts and Humanities in Leiden and is presently in Iran at the personal invitation of Ali-Akbar Velayati, Head of the Islamic Civilization Committee.

Further Reading: The Epic of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh
Further Reading: The Rubayyat of Omar Khayyam.


Credit: Information garnered from MehrNews.com.