Hamse (quintet) of the Ottoman Turkish poet and scholar 'Ata'ullah bin Yahyá 'Ata'i
copied and illustrated by Heyrullah Heyri Çavuszade in 1721AD

An Assassin Sent by the King of Yemen Searching for Hatem

Battle between the Ottoman and Hungarian armies

Ottoman Turks Fighting the Polish Army

Author: Atai (Uzbeki, died 1044 AH/AD 1634)
Scribe: Khayr Allah Khayri Jawush Zadah
Date: 1133 AH/AD 1721 (Ottoman)
Material: ink and pigments on laid paper
Dimensuins: H: 8 1/4 x W: 6 1/8 in. (21 x 15.5 cm)
Place of Origin: Turkey

Walters manuscript W.666 is an illuminated and illustrated copy of the Hamse (quintet) of the Ottoman Turkish poet and scholar 'Ata'ullah bin Yahyá 'Ata'i (died 1044 AH/AD 1634). Although different in content, this work takes its inspiration from the famous Persian Khamsah of Nizami Ganjavi (died 605 AH/AD 1209) and the Khamsah of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi (died 725 AH/AD 1325). This Ottoman copy of 'Ata'i's work ends with a portion of his Divan (fols. 142b-151b) instead of the 5th poem (mesnevi), Hilyet ül-efkar. The text, written in Nasta'liq script, was copied by Heyrullah Heyri Çavuszade in 1133 AH/AD 1721. There are 38 illustrations, and illuminated incipits introduce the different poems (fols. 1b, 22b, 63b, 107b, and 142b). The brown leather binding is original to the manuscript.
The Walters Art museum