"Rustam Carrying the King of Mazandaran to Kai Kavus", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian
Not on view
The matchless Rustam persuaded Shah Kai Kavus that Iran would be disgraced if war were not made on Mazandaran and its arrogant div king humbled. In the course of a mightly battle Rustam espied the enemy king, charged him and pierced his mail with a spear. Before he could be killed, however, the div, by his magic arts, turned himself into a stone. Only Rustam was strong enough to lift the rock and carry it to the Iranian shah. He then threatened to break the rock to bits unless the div resumed his own shape. When he complies, Kai Kavus saw that he was not worthy of kingship and ordered him executed. The artist has unequivocally rendered the might of the hero Rustam, shown larger than other figures and further dramatized by his pictured progress along the top of a foreground's ridge. The shah is shown, not before his tent as described in the epic, but sitting regally upon a white horse under a grand royal umbrella.
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