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Kujata

Kujata, also spelled Kuyūthā or Kiyūthā (Arabic: كيوثاء), is a gigantic cosmic bull central to medieval Islamic cosmography, depicted as the foundational supporter of the Earth in a hierarchical structure of divine creation. In the 13th-century treatise ʿAjāʾib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʾib al-mawjūdāt (The Wonders of Creation) by Zakariya al-Qazwini, Kujata carries on its back a rectangular slab of green jacinth (hyacinth), upon which stands an angel who bears the weight of the Earth—portrayed as a flat disc encircled by the Qaf Mountains—on his shoulders, steadying it with his hands from east to west. The bull itself has no stable footing, so it rests upon the immense fish Bahamut (or Behemoth in some variants), which swims ceaselessly in an ocean of water, darkness, and mist, underscoring the precarious yet divinely ordained balance of the cosmos. This layered arrangement, with Kujata as the pivotal intermediary between celestial and aquatic realms, illustrates the Islamic worldview of a stabilized universe under God's command, drawing from earlier traditions including reports attributed to Ibn Abbas and Wahb ibn Munabbih. Kujata is portrayed as inconceivably vast, with al-Qazwini attributing to it 40,000 eyes, ears, nostrils, mouths, tongues, teeth, lips, horns, and feet—each organ praising continuously—symbolizing the infinite wonders of and the bull's role in sustaining without fatigue or movement. Variants of the name, such as al-Rayyan, appear in some manuscripts and later interpretations, reflecting textual evolutions in Islamic scholarly works, but Kuyūthā remains the standard designation in al-Qazwini's influential text. Beyond cosmology, Kujata embodies themes of divine hierarchy and the marvelous, influencing later , art, and even modern fantasy, though its primary significance lies in medieval explanations of the world's physical and metaphysical order as part of cosmographical traditions, though not part of scripture.

Overview and Cosmology

Identity and Role

In medieval Islamic cosmography, Kujata is depicted as an immense cosmic bull created by to bear the weight of the and prevent its instability or oscillation in the void. This divine creation serves as a foundational element in the universe's architecture, ensuring the stability of the terrestrial realm against potential chaos. The structure supporting the Earth involves a hierarchical layering centered on Kujata. The bull stands upon the colossal fish known as , which forms the base of this cosmic edifice. On Kujata's back rests a vast rock or platform of green jasper; an angel stands upon this rock and holds the , maintaining the overall equilibrium. Kujata's primary role is thus to stabilize the by anchoring the Earth within this multilayered system, reflecting broader themes in Islamic thought about divine order and the prevention of cosmic disorder. This conceptualization underscores the bull's function as a pillar of creation, integral to the harmonious balance of the heavens and earth in medieval Islamic worldview.

Cosmic Hierarchy

In the Islamic cosmic framework, Kujata forms a pivotal layer in a stacked hierarchy that sustains the universe's order. The structure begins with , a gigantic immersed in a vast ocean, providing the foundational support. Kujata, positioned directly atop , serves as the immense bull bearing the immense load of the realms above, illustrating the interconnected dependence of celestial and terrestrial elements. A flat rock rests upon Kujata's back; an angel stands on the rock, upholding the . This rock ensures the stability of the world, which in turn supports earths in layered formations. The culminates in the seven heavens arching overhead, linking to the divine domains and emphasizing Kujata's integral contribution to the overall cosmic balance. Kujata's subtle movements, governed by , prevent catastrophic disruptions; without this control, such shifts would trigger earthquakes across the , highlighting the fragility and miraculous equilibrium of the structure. This arrangement indirectly bolsters related cosmic features, such as the multiple earths and heavens, by channeling support through Kujata's steadfast position.

Etymology

Orthographic Variations

The orthographic variations of the cosmic bull's name arise primarily from the skeletal nature of , which often omits short vowels and diacritical marks (i'jām and tashkīl) in classical manuscripts, leading to ambiguity in and into European languages. These differences reflect scribal practices, regional pronunciations, and the phonetic interpretations of translators across centuries. In medieval Arabic sources, the name is written as كيوثاء (Kuyūthā) in al-Qazwini's ʿAjāʾib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʾib al-mawjūdāt, a foundational cosmographical text. However, the 19th-century edition by Heinrich Ferdinand Wüstenfeld renders it as Kīyūbān or Kibūthān, likely due to variant manuscript readings or copying errors that alter perceived consonants and vowels. An alternate form, al-Rayyān, appears in some later cosmographical traditions, such as in Muḥammad al-Kisāʾī's Qiṣaṣ al-anbiyāʾ (ca. 1100), as the name of the cosmic bull. European adaptations introduced further modifications influenced by 19th-century Orientalist scholarship. , in his 1883 work An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians (commonly referred to as Arabian Society in the Middle Ages), transliterated the name as Kuyootà, emphasizing long vowels to approximate Arabic pronunciation for English readers. This form influenced subsequent renderings, such as Kuyūthā in scholarly discussions of al-Qazwini's text. In , the name appears as Kujata, a simplified phonetic adaptation first used in the 1969 English translation of Jorge Luis Borges's El libro de los seres imaginarios (). Variants like Kuyata (reflecting the original in Borges) and Quyata (in revised English editions) highlight ongoing adjustments for and in .

Derivation and Origins

The name Kujata, rendered in Arabic as Kuyūthā (كيوثاء), is thought to have possible Semitic or Hebrew linguistic origins, with scholars proposing it as a corruption or adaptation of the biblical "Leviathan," the sea monster described in the Hebrew Bible as a massive, chaotic creature symbolizing cosmic forces (Job 41; Isaiah 27:1). This derivation was hypothesized by German orientalist Hermann Ethé in his 1868 partial German translation of Zakariya al-Qazwini's cosmographical text ʿAjāʾib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʾib al-mawjūdāt, where he emended the Arabic form to Lūyātān (لوياتان) and rendered it as Leviathan, citing phonetic resemblances between the terms and the parallel motifs of enormous beasts underpinning or disrupting the world order. Other scholars have similarly suggested the bull's name and role stem from the Leviathan tradition, integrating Judeo-Christian elements into Islamic cosmogony through shared Semitic linguistic roots and imagery of primordial monsters. Kujata first appears in medieval Islamic texts, notably al-Qazwini's 13th-century encyclopedia of and wonders, which synthesizes earlier Hellenistic, Persian, and biblical influences into a structured cosmic hierarchy, without any attested pre-Islamic Arabian precedents for the figure. This emergence reflects the post-Quranic development of Islamic cosmology during the Abbasid era, where foreign mythological motifs were adapted to align with monotheistic frameworks.

Descriptions in Sources

Edward Lane's Account

In his 1836 work An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians, British Orientalist provided a detailed of medieval Islamic cosmological traditions for readers, drawing from sources to describe the mythical bull Kuyootà (also rendered as Kujata). Lane portrayed Kuyootà as an immense bull possessing 4,000 eyes, 4,000 ears, 4,000 nostrils, 4,000 mouths, 4,000 tongues, and 4,000 feet, with the distance between each pair of its feet equivalent to a 500-year journey, underscoring the creature's colossal scale. Lane situated Kuyootà within a layered cosmic , where the supports a vast rock of featuring seven thousand perforations from which seas emerge. Atop this rock stands an angel who bears the seven earths, forming the foundational structure of the world. Beneath Kuyootà lies , an enormous fish that swims ceaselessly in an of unfathomable depth, with further realms of water and darkness extending below; Lane notes that the fish's motion causes the . This account, presented in Chapter V on cosmography (pages 106–107), reflects Lane's effort to compile and adapt narratives, such as those from as quoted by al-Iṣṭakhrī, into a coherent framework accessible to 19th-century European audiences.

Arabic Cosmographical Texts

In medieval Arabic cosmographical literature, Kujata, known as Kuyūthā, is depicted as a colossal integral to the cosmic structure supporting the world. , in his ʿAjāʾib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharāʾib al-mawjūdāt (Wonders of Creation and Oddities of Existence), describes Kuyūthā as possessing 40,000 eyes, ears, nostrils, mouths, tongues, horns, and legs, with the distance between each pair of eyes or ears spanning 500 years of travel. This immense stands upon the cosmic fish , bearing on its back a vast green rock that serves as the foundation for an angel, who in turn upholds the seven earths and the disk of the inhabited world encircled by . Variations in these numerical attributes—such as 4,000 or 40,000 appendages—appear across texts, reflecting diverse transmissions of cosmographical traditions. In Ḥayāt al-ḥayawān (Life of Animals), al-Din al-Damiri attributes to the 4,000 eyes, ears, nostrils, mouths, tongues, horns, and legs, emphasizing its role in sustaining the green emerald slab upon which the earth-bearing angel rests. Similarly, in Kharīdat al-ʿajāʾib wa-farīdat al-gharāʾib (The Pearl of Wonders and the Uniqueness of Strange Things), Siraj al-Din Umar ibn al-Wardi describes the with 40 humps, 40 horns, and four feet, with the intervals between its limbs requiring 500 years to traverse, while it supports the platform linking the earthly realms to the celestial hierarchy of . Yaqut al-Hamawi's Muʿjam al-buldān (Dictionary of Places) outlines the cosmic bull—unnamed but structurally identical to Kuyūthā—as the supporter of a green gemstone slab atop which an angel bears the seven stratified earths, drawing from earlier accounts to integrate geographical and cosmological elements without specifying appendage counts. Some sources attribute natural phenomena to Kuyūthā's actions, particularly its influence on oceanic movements. Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tha'labi, in ʿArāʾis al-majālis fī qiṣaṣ al-anbiyāʾ (Ornaments of Assemblies on Stories of the Prophets), portrays the bull with its nose extended into the primordial sea, where its daily exhalation causes tides to rise and flood the shores, while inhalation draws them back, thereby maintaining the balance of waters beneath the cosmic structure. Yaqut al-Hamawi echoes this in Muʿjam al-buldān, attributing tidal ebbs and flows to the bull's breathing, which regulates the sea encircling the supported earths and heavens in harmony with divine will. These depictions underscore Kuyūthā's role not merely as a physical pillar but as an active element in the ordered cosmos spanning seven earths and seven heavens.

Cultural and Comparative Aspects

Relation to Other Mythical Creatures

Kujata shares thematic parallels with the biblical and , both of which are portrayed as enormous creatures embodying the scale and might of divine creation. In the , is depicted as a massive land beast with unparalleled strength, symbolizing stability and power on , while serves as a formidable representing chaotic forces ultimately under God's control. Kujata, as a gigantic , combines bovine attributes akin to with a supportive cosmic similar to these beasts, bearing the angel who upholds the and maintaining the ordered structure of the . Similarities also exist with cosmic animals in Babylonian and Zoroastrian traditions, where bulls figure prominently in world-bearing or foundational myths. In Babylonian mythology, the , dispatched by the goddess Ishtar in the , embodies celestial authority and divine intervention, reflecting the immense, otherworldly stature of Kujata as a pillar of the . Likewise, Zoroastrian features the Primal Bull (Gavāēvdātā), a creature central to whose essence generates life after its slaying by the evil spirit Angra Mainyu, paralleling Kujata's role as an essential supporter in the hierarchical framework of existence. A key distinction lies in Kujata's seamless incorporation into the monotheistic Islamic cosmological hierarchy, where it functions as a created entity obedient to Allah's will, devoid of oppositional or chaotic elements. In contrast, Leviathan often symbolizes primordial disorder to be subdued, the acts within a polytheistic of conflicting deities, and the Primal Bull in Zoroastrian suffers destruction by malevolent forces, highlighting Kujata's uniquely harmonious position in a unified divine order.

Influence in Literature and Modern Depictions

Kujata's portrayal in 20th-century literature often draws from Islamic cosmological traditions, reimagining it within broader fantastical frameworks. In ' The Book of Imaginary Beings (), Kujata appears as a colossal supporting the world, described with thousands of eyes, ears, and limbs, positioned beneath the cosmic layers including the fish . Borges blends this with other mythologies to explore imaginative , emphasizing Kujata's role in a layered universe where it bears an angel, a mountain, and the earth itself. This literary revival has influenced modern and media adaptations inspired by Arabian and Islamic myths. Scholarly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has further highlighted Kujata in discussions of global cosmogonies, positioning it alongside figures like the Audhumla or Hindu world-turtle. In contemporary popular culture, Kujata manifests prominently in video games, particularly the Final Fantasy series, where it serves as a summonable entity representing elemental forces. Introduced in (1997), with appearances in subsequent titles including its remake (2024), Kujata is depicted as a massive, horned wielding fire, ice, and lightning attacks, its design nodding to the mythical bull's immense scale and multiplicity of features. This adaptation has popularized Kujata among global audiences, integrating it into game lore as a guardian of natural elements. In 2025, Kujata appears as a summon card in the Magic: The Gathering Commander: Final Fantasy set, depicted as an ox with lightning, ice, and fire abilities. Despite these integrations, Kujata's presence in 20th- and 21st-century and animations remains sparse, with occasional scholarly illustrations in comparative mythology texts rather than mainstream productions. For instance, academic works on Islamic esotericism feature stylized depictions in diagrams of celestial hierarchies, but no major animated films or series have centered on it, highlighting a gap in broader cultural adaptations beyond gaming and literary allusions.

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