Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi

Front Cover

13.228.13.6

Front Inside Cover

Ill. bird design below list of Persian kings at end of Preface.

Illuminated title-piece to the Shah-namah.

King Kaiumars, the first in the line of Persian kings.

Jamshid, the ruler of the Golden Age, on his throne.

Dahhak, tyrant of Babylon and Arabia, from whose shoulders serpents grew, and whose cruel sway over Persia lasted a thousand years.

Faridun enthroned (?)

Iraj, the son of Faridun, slain by his own brothers Salm and Tur.

King Minuchihr on his throne.

Zal is restored by the fabulous bird Simurgh to his father Sam.

Zal woos the beautiful Rudabah.

Birth of the hero Rustam. The fabulous bird Simurgh appears with help.

Kai Ka'us attempts to fly to heaven by fastening young eagles to his throne.

Rustam in combat kills Suhrab, being unaware that he is slaying his own son.

Siawush sends a message to Afrasiab of Turan by Sangah of Shavaran.

Gurwi son of Zirah puts to death Siawush, whom he has captured, and causes the blood to be caught in a basin to send to King Ka'us of Iran.

Kai Khusrau sitting in state.

Farud in battle slays Zarasp, the son of Tus.

Battle between Gudarz, his followers and Piran of Turen.

The Ruler of China taken prisoner by Rustam with his lasso.

The ruler of China taken prisoner by Rustam with his lasso.

The Demon Akwan Div throws Rustam into the sea.

Conventional scene between lovers at the close of the first subdivision of the work.

Illuminated title-piece to the second subdivision beginning with the story of Bizhan and Manizhah.

Rustam rescues Bizhan from the well.

Rustam in battle with Afrasiab of Turan.

Killing of Pilsam by Rustam.

Battle between Barzu, the grandson of Rustam, and Afrasiab of Turan.

Human slain by Bizhan.

The Turanian leader Piran killed by Gudarz in combat.

King Khusrau of Iran slays Shidah of Turan in combat.

Battle between Kai Khusrau and Afrasiab.

Khusrau kills Garsiwaz and likewise Afrasiab as the latter comes out of the water.

Conventional scene of lovers at close of second subdivision.

Illuminated title-piece to third subdivision, beginning with the reign of Gushtasp. King Gushtasp sits on his throne.

Gushtasp throws his son, Isfandiyar, into prison.

Isfandiyar kills a wolf on the first stage of his seven adventures and a lion and lioness on the second stage.

Isfandiyar kills a dragon on the third stage of his seven adventures.

Isfandiyar kills a sorceress, the fourth stage of his seven adventures.

Isfandiyar kills the Simurgh on the fifth stage of his seven adventures.

Isfandiyar kills Gurgsar of Turan on the seventh stage of his seven adventures.

Rustam slays Isfandiyar with a two-pronged arrow shot into his eyes.

Funeral of Isfandiyar.

Rustam, near death, transfixes his half-brother, Shaghad, through a tree.

Faramarz executed by Bahman.

Alexander over the corpse of Darius III, who has been slain by his own faithless vizirs.

Alexander on the throne of Persia.

Battle between Alexander and the Porus of India.

Khidr, the Sage of Eternal Youth, at the Fountain of Life (part of the legend of Alexander.

Alexander returning from China.

Story of Ardawan and Ardashir.

Ardawan put to death by Ardashir.

Ardashir Babagan on the throne.

Shapur Dhu'l-Aktaf II, the Sasanian King (309-379 AD).

Shah Yazdagird on his throne.

Bahram Gur hunting with his mistress, Fitnah, 'Mischief', transfixed the gazelle's hoof to its ear by an arrow, as proof of his skill in archery.

Shah Yazdagird killed by the kick of a horse.

Bahram Gur congratulated on ascending the throne.

Bahram Gur as king.

Story of Bahram Gur and the chief of the village, who mastered a lion.

Story of Bahram Gur and the jeweler whose daughter he took as a spouse.

Bahram Gur kills a dragon.

Mazdak, the Heretic, executed by Anushirwan.

Conventional scene of lovers at the end of the third subdivision.

Ill. title-piece to the fourth subdivision, beginning with the reign of Amushirwan. Amushirwan the Just on the throne.

The origin of the game of chess.

Battle between Gav and Talhand, the latter is slain on the back of his elephant.

Battle between Bahram Chubin and Sawah-Shah, and the death of the latter.

Bahram Chubin sits on the throne of Ctesiphon.

Death of Bahram Chubin by the hand of Kalun.

Khusrau, out hunting, meets Shirin.

King Khusrau and the minstrel Barbad, who, unknown to the King, sang hidden between two cypress branches and thus became the court bard.

Khusrau Parwiz slain by Mir Hurmazd.

Yazdagard III on the throne.

Yazdagard III assassinated by a miller, by order of Mahwi Suri.

Bizhan, the Turk, tortures and kills Mahwi Suri in revenge for Yazdagard's murder.

Back Inside Cover

Back Cover

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22

13.228.22