"Zal delivers Sam's letter to Manuchihr", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi

Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian

Not on view

This episode in the complex and momentous love affair of the young hero Zal and the princess Rudaba is presented as a standard court scene. Zal bows in front of the shah after he delivers Sam's letter which tries to persuade him that the marriage would be in his interest. The shah is surrounded by guardians and courtiers, members of the military elite, and his vizier, who wears a turban signifying that he is part of the bureaucracy.

"Zal delivers Sam's letter to Manuchihr", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus), Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.