The Story of the City of Brass: The Reminiscence of Khavaran Nameh in Spanish Aljamiado Manuscripts

Document Type : Original Article

10.22067/jmels.2024.85199.1015
Abstract
This text studies a reminiscence of some of Khavaran Nameh/ Ḵāvarān Nāma stories in one of the manuscripts found in Spain - known as the Aljamiado - and explores the possibility that the authors of these texts imitated this Persian work.The Khavaran Nameh by Ebn Ḥosām Ḵᵛāfi (or Ḵusfi), an epic-religious imitation of the Shahname, describes the adventures of Ali, as a Shiite hero, on an unreal journey to the lands of Khavaran, the city of Zarin and the Coastal city as well as his battles against Salsal Shah etc. On the other hand, the Story of the city of Brass (Alhadiz de Ciudad de latón), an aljamiado text, also narrates a similar journey, but without specific parts of Khavaran Nameh. In this investigation, using analytical-descriptive method, first structural similarities and differences between the narratives of these two collections introducing a brief reference to folkloric elements and motifs. Then, through a comparative analysis, from a historical and chronological perspective, these difference and narrative changes are explained, especially in the religious area. Finally, the possibility of imitation from Persian texts in Spain would be discussed.

Keywords


  • Receive Date 05 November 2023
  • Revise Date 17 December 2023
  • Accept Date 16 April 2024
  • First Publish Date 20 July 2024
  • Publish Date 20 July 2024