Publication Date
Late thirteenth century or beginning of the fourteenth century
Publication Place
Western Iran -
Aga Khan Museum
Subject
Ink, opaque watercolour, gold and silver on paper
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Physical Dimensions
30.8 × 22.1 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
AKM20
Record ID
object;EPM;ca;Mus21;16;ar
Library Location
Aga Khan Museum
Date
Late thirteenth century or beginning of the fourteenth century
Notes
This page is from Frere's scattered copy of Firdawsi's epic Shahnameh (Book of Kings). It depicts a classic Sassanid picture of the king's power by illustrating a period in the life of the Sassanian kings: Bahram Gur (r. 420-38) and Bahram V, the "Great Hunter" depicted in the middle of a lion hunting scene (not donkeys, in Persian Gur - source of his nickname). This adventure began when the king shot a lion with an arrow in the heart, and the beast roared as it gasped for breath. He warned his female, and she in turn rushed forcefully towards Bahram and struck him with her claws, but this did not prevent him from drawing his sword and killing her as well. As is often the case in Ferdowsi’s stories about Bahram, the hunt was followed by celebration and the inevitable drinking of wine and drunkenness, but on this occasion, drunkenness led to a disaster, after which Bahram forbade drinking alcohol, but after a short time, when the wine allowed a domesticated escaped lion to escape, the king retracted his decision.
Sample Text
“Bahram Gur Hunting and Killing a Lion and a Lioness, Scattered Page from a Copy of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh (Book of Kings)” in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;ca;Mus21;16;ar
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MWNF Working Number: CA1 16
