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Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThe scene is divided between an outdoor courtly procession and an upper pavilion where the king resides. Figures in vibrant, finely detailed traditional clothing interact in a landscape featuring blossoming trees and architectural elements. The painting is set within a highly decorated margin featuring floral motifs and gold leaf.
This artwork represents an illustration from the 'Shahnama' (Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi, a central epic of Persian literature that preserves the pre-Islamic history, mythology, and kingship traditions of Iran, which are essential to the Zoroastrian legacy within Islamic culture.
جهان جهان آفرین خواند ورا هرچه اندر زمین خواند ورا که لهراسپ آرام یافت خرد یافت و کام یافت ز دانش فرستاد و باری به بنه و کین و تا با و بوم ز مرز سرش که دانا بدند به هر کایک و توانا بدند زیر کشوری برکشیدند شاه بدیدند یکسر همه گاه شاد بودند بیگانه ز رنج زدانش چشیدند هم سر گنج یکی شاه لهراسپ بر تخت شاه برآمد چنان چون برآمد به ماه پر از زر بزن دکوی و اژدها بهر وزنی مارپیچ شعله شده همه که در گردش آتش کده دوزند و کشش بیارند و داه بنه و از شاه و بی که و کلا یکی نام کشت است و دیگر زرم زیر آمدی سر به سر و شیر گذشته به دانشی چه درم ز لشکر خریدی به زر و درم دو شاه افرازه و دو نیفی زیر و جهادها و بسی
Translation
The world praised the Creator of the world, Everything that is on earth praised Him. When Luhrasp found peace, He found wisdom and attained his desires. He sent forth wisdom and abundance, With foundations, and hate, and lands and territories. From the borders where the wise were, They were all strong and capable. Under the country, the King rose up, They all saw the throne with joy. They were strangers to suffering, And from wisdom, they tasted the essence of the treasure. One King Luhrasp on the King's throne, Rose up just as the moon rises. Full of gold, with a cauldron and a dragon, For every weight, a twisting snake of flame became. All that is in the revolution of the fire temple, They sew, and they bring attraction and wisdom. With the foundation and from the King and without hill and crown, One is named Khasht and the other Zarm, Under came the head to head and the lion, Passed with wisdom, what a dirham, He bought from the army with gold and dirhams, Two kings exalted and two noble ones, Under the battles and many.
Ferdowsi
This is a folio from the 'Shahnama', the foundational national epic of Persia which recounts the deeds and reigns of the Iranian kings.
Object
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
mythological
Digital Source
Unknown · Public domain
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview on April 14, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.