An Example of an Archetype Format of the Qur'an Design in the Early 14th Century

Abstract

The theme of this article is the design pattern of the calligraphy and illumination of a 14th century Qur'an manuscript kept in the National Archive of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Kyrenia (Mev.T85/1/[3]) that is unique in character with its decoration repertoire in a free manner. This is a rare copy of the Qur'an text, dated 717/1317, written on paper in rayhan script, by using black ink for the text, red ink for the punctuation marks and gold for the titles of the which are in Kufic and muhaqqaq script. The manuscript has a variety of marginal illuminations, designed in a rather unusual character though not bearing high artistic design quality, apparently to guide the reader. Thus. it is the aim of the authors to bring this manuscript as one of the archetype styles to the attention of the scholars together with an attempt to draw out sonic theoretical aspects in view of the Qur'an illumination manners of the concerned century in comparison to the Ones produced in certain districts of the Islamic countries alongside the theories of al-Ghazali (1058-1111), the Islamic philosopher, regarding the amount of recitation and organising the Qur'an text into parts. Also, the paper attempts to put forward some ideas about its history and by which means it found its way to Omeriye Mosque, Nicosia (Cyprus) in 1019/1610-11 with some remarks about the formation of the Islamic manuscript collection in Cyprus.