Falnama

Adam and Eve being cast out from the Garden of Eden in the Dispersed Falnama
Refer to caption
Coffin of Imam 'Ali from the Dispersed Falnama[1]

The Persian word Falnama (Persian: فالنامه, lit. 'falnameh') covers two forms of bibliomancy (fortune-telling using a book) used historically in Iran, Turkey, and India.[2][3] Quranic Falnamas were sections at the end of Quran manuscripts used for fortune-telling based on a grid. In the 16th century, Falnama manuscripts were introduced that used a different system; individuals performed purification rituals, opened a random page in the book and interpreted their fortune in light of the painting and its accompanying text.[4] Only a few illustrated Falnamas now survive; these were commissioned by rich patrons and are unusually large books for the time, with bold, finely executed paintings.[5][6] These paintings illustrate historical and mythological figures as well as events and figures associated with the Abrahamic religions.

  1. ^ ""Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq". The Met. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  2. ^ Coffey, Heather (2019). "Diminutive Divination and the Implications of Scale: A Miniature Qur'anic Falnama of the Safavid Period". In Myrvold, Kristina; Miller Parmenter, Dorina (eds.). Miniature books : the format and function of tiny religious texts. Sheffield. pp. 85–87. ISBN 978-1-78179-860-7. OCLC 1082402029.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Rogers, J. M. (2008). The arts of Islam : treasures from the Nasser D. Khalili collection (Revised and expanded ed.). Abu Dhabi: Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC). pp. 275–9. OCLC 455121277.
  4. ^ Py-Lieberman, Beth (22 October 2009). "Falnama's Book of Omens: The Future Will Be Bright and Sunny". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  5. ^ Gopnik, Blake (25 October 2009). "Art review: Blake Gopnik on 'Falnama: The Book of Omens' at the Sackler Gallery". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).