{"product_id":"9789087280871","title":"Courtly Riddles: Enigmatic Embellishments in Early Persian Poetry","description":"This book is the first study of Persian literary riddles to appear in English, analysing a wide range of complex riddling poems systematically from the tenth to the twelfth century. In addition to the genre of riddles, the book examines the relationship between metaphors and riddles and the genre of literary description. Riddles belong to the oldest genre in many literary traditions.\u003cp\u003eO amber-bodied idol, precious ruby!\u003cbr\u003eYou are fire with ambergris smoke, amber with fiery smoke;\u003cbr\u003eYou have silver in your heart, red sulfur in your mouth;\u003cbr\u003eYou have a snake in your throat, its teeth are on your tongue.\u003cbr\u003eYou are the sun, burning the heaven, a meteor whose throne is the moon,\u003cbr\u003efenugreek bearing flowers, a reed bearing tulips.\u003cbr\u003eA silver chain is wrapped around your golden feet,\u003cbr\u003eon your head is a sun composed of a single brilliant ruby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRiddles were composed at courts in the Iranian world for various purposes, such as highlighting the courtly insignia that refer to the ruler's administrative and military power. The aesthetic of puzzlement was much appreciated at courts. Through a riddle, the poet aims to demonstrate his artistic accomplishment in a short space; and at the same time he secures his social, professional and personal position at the court and in cultured circles. Literary riddles occur in the early specimens of Persian literature from the tenth century and they continue to be used in modern Iranian society.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Leiden University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47057627578608,"sku":"9789087280871","price":32.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9789087280871_p0.jpg?v=1763671326","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9789087280871","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}