The Oldest Persian Enigmatic Treatise

Abstract

Riddle as a figure of speech, which has been popular in Persian poetry for a long time, is divided into two types: nominal and historical riddles (Chronograph). In the 11th-9th lunar centuries, which was the peak period of the riddle writing, several treatises were written to explain the rules of riddles, as well as to record the best riddles. The lack of comprehensive research on enigmatic treatises has led to problems in identifying them, which has caused mistakes and errors in some reference sources. Such mistakes have found their way into other works and have eventually become so prevalent that they are considered scientific truth. This fundamental research, which was carried out using library sources and dealing with numerous manuscripts, revealed that Zabihullah Safa's view that (الاحیاء فی حل المعمّا) “al-Ehyāe Fī Hal al-Moamā” is the oldest Persian enigmatic treatise is not exact and there is no such treatise. The oldest treatise (مطلوب الاحباب) “Matlōb al-Ahbāb” is the work of Rafi Manouchehr, a merchant known as Badie Tabrizi. The author of the treatise "24 Asl" was also identified.

Keywords

• riddle
• al-ehyāe fī hal al-mo´amā
• matlōb al-ahbāb
• holale motarraz dar fann-e mo´amā va loghaz
• manouchehr badi´e tabrizi