Image: Menak Amir Hamza

Description: Menak Amir Hamza is a Javanese epic cycle of tales centred on Amir Hamza, the uncle of the prophet Muhammad. Based on an Arabic-Persian original, the Javanese version has been developed and localised, with further invented and appended tales concerning Amir Hamza’s sons and grandsons. This manuscript originated from the court of Yogyakarta, and was written for Ratu Ageng (ca. 1730-1803), a wife of the first sultan of Yogaykarta, Sultan Hamengku Buwono I, and mother of Sultan Hamengku Buwono II. In the introduction she is called prabu wanodeya / kang jumeneng Ratu Agung / kang ngedhaton Tegalreja, 'the female monarch / who reigns as Ratu Agung / and has her palace in Tegalreja'. Ratu Ageng was a daughter of an Islamic scholar and was known as a devout Muslim. The manuscript was copied some time after 1792 (and before 1812, when it was taken by British forces from the palace of Yogyakarta), but it is not known how long was needed for this enormous task (British Library, Add. 12309, ff. 335v-336r)
Title: Menak Amir Hamza
Credit: https://blogs.bl.uk/asian-and-african/2019/03/the-largest-javanese-manuscript-in-the-world-menak-amir-hamza.html
Author: unknown, written for Ratu Ageng of Yogyakarta
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No