2-999-818 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Tale of the Man in the Well from the 'Iyar-i Danish (Touchstone of Wisdom) of Abu al-Fazl, late 10th century AH/AD late 16th century. This single leaf is from 'Iyar-I Danish, a text based on the genre of animal tales in the vein of Kalila wa Dimna. Abu'l Fazl translated Kalila wa Dimna and offered his audiences a simplified version of these captivating animal fables. The image shows the fate of a man who, escaping from a wild camel, jumps into a well. There his predicament grows even more precarious when he lands on the heads of four snakes, grasps in desperation at a bush gnawed by two rats, and looks down to see dragon waiting to devour him should he fall.