Says writer Will Durant: "Ancient Iranians with an
alphabet of 36 letters, used skins and pen to write, Instead of ear-then
tablets". Such was the creativity spent on the art of writing. The
significance of the art of calligraphy in works of pottery, metallic vessels,
and historic buildings is such that they are deemed lacking without the
adorning decorative calligraphy.
Calligraphy
is the highest art form of the Islamic civilization, and like all forms of art
that came into contact with Iran, it was enhanced and developed by the
Persians. It was practised not only by professional calligraphers, but also by
princes and nobles themselves. Calligraphers were an essential requirement for
any self-respecting court, both to instruct the prince's children in the
principles of the art and to produce manuscripts for the royal library.
Under the Timurids
and the Safavids, calligraphy experienced perhaps its most brilliant
development. In the late 14th century Umar Aqta "with amputated
hand", wrote a miniature Koran for Timur, which was so small that it could
be fitted under the socket of a signet ring. When Timur disapproved of it
because, according to a Prophetic tradition the Word of God should be written
in big letters, the calligrapher produced another copy in which each was a
cubit1 in length.
