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Kay Kavus attempts to fly, from the Book of Kings (Shahnama) by Firdausi

Title	Kay Kavus attempts to fly, from the Book of Kings (Shahnama) by Firdausi
Author	Shiraz
Publication Date:	1480 (885H)
Type	Document
Language	Persian
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	Yes
Physical Dimensions	348 mm x 235 mm (height x width)
Library:	Chester Beatty
Record ID	Per 157.81
Library Location	Persian collection
Date	1480 (885H)
Notes	Kay Kavus attempts to fly, from the Book of Kings (Shahnama) by Firdausi. Firdausi's epic Book of Kings was composed c. 1010, and tells in Persian verse the mythical histories of fifty kings and queens from ancient pre-Islamic Iran. The stories blend historical figures and events with dramatic legend, featuring superhuman heroes, supernatural monsters and kings of variable quality. Depicted here is the unwise Kay Kavus, a king who makes several poor decisions throughout his reign, to the despair of his nobles. Tempted to fly, he orders a contraption built with four tame eagles strapped to it, and takes off in it. The flying throne works for a short time, but the king eventually crashes unhurt in the remote countryside. Detached folio, ink, colours and gold on paper, Persian poetry in nasta`liq script, painting (on verso), text copied by Muhammad Baqqal, dated 23 Jumada I 885H, Shiraz, Iran, 31 July 1480
Materyal	Paper (material), Pigment (material), Ink (material), Gold
Nesne Adı	Folio / Bi-Folio (Codex)
Yazı Tipi	Nasta'liq script

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Kay Kavus attempts to fly, from the Book of Kings (Shahnama) by Firdausi

Author Shiraz

Publication Date 1480 (885H)

Type Document

Language Persian

Digital Yes

Manuscript Yes

Physical Dimensions 348 mm x 235 mm (height x width)

Library Chester Beatty

Record ID Per 157.81

Library Location Persian collection

Date 1480 (885H)

Notes Kay Kavus attempts to fly, from the Book of Kings (Shahnama) by Firdausi. Firdausi's epic Book of Kings was composed c. 1010, and tells in Persian verse the mythical histories of fifty kings and queens from ancient pre-Islamic Iran. The stories blend historical figures and events with dramatic legend, featuring superhuman heroes, supernatural monsters and kings of variable quality. Depicted here is the unwise Kay Kavus, a king who makes several poor decisions throughout his reign, to the despair of his nobles. Tempted to fly, he orders a contraption built with four tame eagles strapped to it, and takes off in it. The flying throne works for a short time, but the king eventually crashes unhurt in the remote countryside. Detached folio, ink, colours and gold on paper, Persian poetry in nasta`liq script, painting (on verso), text copied by Muhammad Baqqal, dated 23 Jumada I 885H, Shiraz, Iran, 31 July 1480

Materyal Paper (material), Pigment (material), Ink (material), Gold

Nesne Adı Folio / Bi-Folio (Codex)

Yazı Tipi Nasta'liq script