Folio from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (d. 1020); recto: Kay Ka'us chained in a grotto by the white demon; verso: text, Ka'us sends a letter to Rustam the son of Zal and asks for help

Object Details

• Artist

  Ascribed to Siyavush

• Description

  Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black nasta’liq script; recto: illustration and text: Kay Ka'us chained in a grotto by the white demon, 4 columns, 6 lines of text, marginal writings; verso: text: Ka'us sends a letter to Rustam the son of Zal and asks for help, 4 columns, 22 lines of text.

  Border: The recto is set in gold, black, and blue rulings on cream-colored paper; the verso is set in gold, red, green, and blue rulings on cream-colored paper.

• Origin

  Qazvin, Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase -- Charles Lang Freer Endowment in appreciation of Mary Wilkie Ebrahimi and her exemplary service to the Galleries as vice chair of the Board of Trustees (2003-2007)

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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• Date

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• Name

  Siyavush

• Place

  Qazvin

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Prisoner, Art, Rustam, Demon, Arts of the Islamic World, Kay Kavus, Shahnama

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts