Hidden text found on a page of the ancient Blue Quran: a sensation in the world of science

Researchers at the Zayed National Museum (ZNM) in Abu Dhabi have discovered a hidden text on a page of the Blue Quran, a unique manuscript dating back to the 9th century. Under the golden patterns, they found verses from Surah An-Nisa.

The manuscript is famous for its indigo-painted sheepskin pages, golden kufic letters, and silver decorations. The verses were read thanks to multispectral visualization, an advanced technology that allowed to reveal hidden details. This is reported by interestingengineering.com.

The analysis showed that the elaborate gold ornaments served not only as a decorative feature but also hid the calligrapher's mistake. Presumably, there was a duplicate verse that was disguised to avoid redoing the page. Given the high cost of such materials, this decision was practical.

ZNM curator Nurul Iman Rusli emphasized that the use of technology allows us to reveal new aspects of the creation of such manuscripts:

"It is believed that only one copy of the Blue Quran exists. The discovery of these details opens up new perspectives in the study of this unique manuscript."

Assistant curator Mai Al Mansouri explained that the study of the Blue Quran is of great importance for the cultural and academic life of the region:

"This discovery sheds new light on the origins and techniques of the manuscript, emphasizing the importance of the museum as a scientific and cultural center."

The manuscript dates from around 800-900 AD. It originally consisted of 600 pages, but only about 100 have survived to this day. The pages are in museums and private collections around the world. The place of creation of the manuscript is still controversial: North Africa, Iraq, or Andalusia are considered probable regions.

This discovery gives a new insight into the skill of calligraphers and the techniques of creating Islamic manuscripts.

If you want to get the latest news about the war and events in Ukraine, subscribe to our Telegram channel!