المداد والحبر

Ingredients

نباتات تنمو في نجد, مخلفات النار, الزعفران, النيلة, الحناء

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The inhabitants of Najd manufactured their own inks and midads locally using dyes extracted from plants indigenous to the region (p. 409). They also utilized residues from fire (soot/carbon) as a primary component in ink production (p. 409). Manuscripts from the region contain several recorded recipes for creating both black and colored inks. Specifically, saffron was used to produce red and yellow inks, indigo (nila) was employed for blue ink, and henna was used to create green ink (p. 409).

Evidence

"استخدم النجديون في الكتابة المداد والحبر، وكانوا يصنعونهما في نجد، مستخدمين أصباغًا استخرجوها من نباتات تنمو في نجد، واستخدموا كذلك مخلفات النار في صنع الأحبار، وقد أوردوا في بعض مخطوطاتهم طرقًا عدة لصناعة المداد والأحبار، السوداء والملونة، كالزعفران للحبر الأحمر والأصفر، والنيلة للحبر الأزرق، والحناء للحبر الأخضر."

Remarks

Najdi copyists developed a localized industry for ink production due to their geographic context, relying on available agricultural and environmental materials (p. 409). The colored inks were used not only for main texts but also for headings, borders, and decorative elements (p. 412). The diversity of the color palette suggests a sophisticated understanding of local botanical sources for dye extraction (p. 409-410).