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Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThis miniature depicts a formal scene from the Persian epic the Shahnama, where the hero Rustam stands before King Kai Kavus, who is seated on an ornate throne under a tent. In the foreground, the captive Div King, portrayed with dark skin, is being held or executed by soldiers. The composition features vibrant colors, intricate textile patterns, and a gathered assembly of warriors in a stylized landscape.
The Shahnama, or 'Book of Kings', serves as a foundational epic for Persian identity and statecraft, often studied within the context of Islamic political philosophy and the ethics of kingship. It reflects the intersection of pre-Islamic Zoroastrian heroic traditions with the subsequent Islamic cultural milieu of the Safavid era.
وزان پس بر آن جایگه شد دژم بفرمود تا خسرو نامدار میانش بخنجر بدو نیم کرد ولش نیسته شاه پر مایه کو که شاهی و فخر و تاج و کلاه کشد دیو جاد و پرمایه کر کبیره دشتش بکند زیر نیز ببردند زان پس به زار و نزار بشد دیو شاه ما زبدات بشکر کشن پس فرستاد رو بیاورد و شد در کشیدش سر و ارکس پس جنگش بجنگ بفرمود تا خواست پر به بود وزان خواست پس سر آورده بویژه کسی خوش فروشان به گنج و تورنت و و تاج و کمر نهادند سر جای آن کو کو بیشک که کس یک به سپاه ز اسب و تن و دین فکر بفستند لشکر به حکم رود چو بختش پس اندر شهور شکل
Translation
After that, he became enraged at that place, He commanded the renowned King [Kai Kavus], To cut him in two with a dagger at the waist. [...] The demon king was brought to us from his wickedness. [...] [The remaining text fragments describe the aftermath of the battle, the royal commands, and the movement of the army.]
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.