HISTORICAL TRUTH AND ARTISTIC FICTION IN THE EPIC POEM “SADDI ISKANDARIY”

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the relationship between historical truth and artistic fiction in Alisher Navoi’s epic poem Saddi Iskandariy. The interpretation of the image of Iskandar in historical sources is comparatively examined alongside Navoi’s artistic conception, with particular attention to the principles through which the poet reworks historical reality for aesthetic and literary purposes. The thesis explores the historical prototype of Iskandar, his artistic transformation within the traditions of Eastern literature, as well as the legendary, religious, and didactic elements incorporated into the epic. By examining the balance between historical fact and artistic fiction, the study argues that, for Navoi, the artistic interpretation of Iskandar as an ideal ruler and a symbol of justice, knowledge, and enlightenment is more significant than the precise reconstruction of his historical biography. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between Saddi Iskandariy and historical-literary sources, as well as the distinctive features of the work as a product of artistic imagination.