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"The First Combat of Gav and Talhand", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)

Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian
ca. 1330–40
Not on view
Three battles between two Indian princes - half brothers contending for the throne - resulted in the invention of the game of chess, to explain the death of one of them to their grieving mother. The Persian word shah mat, or checkmate, indicating a position of no escape, describes the plight of Talhand at the end of the third battle. Gav will not kill his brother, who dies nonetheless upon his war elephant, exhausted by the battle and seeing no escape. The half-clad figures seated on the backs of the elephants are Indian mahouts; mounted archers and other warriors can be seen against the red background.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "The First Combat of Gav and Talhand", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
  • Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus)
  • Date: ca. 1330–40
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran, probably Isfahan
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
  • Dimensions: Page:
    H. 8 1/16 in. (20.5 cm)
    W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
    Painting:
    H. 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm)
    W. 4 5/16 in. (11 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Monroe C. Gutman, 1974
  • Object Number: 1974.290.40
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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