“Battle of Tribes”: the history of wrestling transformed into a work of art

🔴 A love story that still inspires awe

🔴 Uzbek heritage to be displayed at the Center of Islamic Civilization

In Nizami Ganjavi’s famous poem Layla and Majnun, the tale is told of Nawfal, a wealthy nobleman who fights on behalf of Majnun. In order to win Layla back, he confronts her tribe in battle. Yet despite his victory, Layla’s father refuses to give his daughter to Majnun, whom he considered “mad”.

This dramatic story has inspired artists for centuries. In particular, miniatures from the Herat and Shiraz schools brought this episode great renown. One of the earliest known depictions, a Herat miniature from 1431 preserved in the collection of the State Hermitage in Russia, shows Nawfal’s soldiers driving the enemy off the battlefield and chasing them beyond the scene’s frame. With its radiant garden backdrop, vibrant costumes, and elegant natural setting, the scene is infused with a fairy-tale spirit.

However, the great painter Kamoliddin Behzod represented this episode in a completely new style. In his famous miniature Battle of the Tribes, created in the 1490s, the scene unfolds in the Arabian desert. Sand dunes, a golden sky, and armies arranged in circular formation convey a striking dynamism. Through the clash of swords and spears, and the movement of men and animals, Behzod vividly expressed the spirit of battle.

Today this masterpiece is preserved at the British Library and is recognized as one of the most celebrated subjects in miniature painting.

With its historical and artistic significance, Battle of the Tribes holds a special place in the Center of Islamic Civilization’s project 100 rare manuscripts. the center is becoming a vital platform for preserving national heritage and presenting the masterpieces of world culture to the wider public.