"The Combat of Khusrau Parviz and Bahram Chubina (?)", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
ca. 1330–40
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
Dimensions
Page: H. 8 1/16 in. (20.5 cm) W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm) Painting: H. 1 15/16 in. (5 cm) W. 4 5/16 in. (10.9 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Monroe C. Gutman, 1974
Accession Number
1974.290.42
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Persian epic poetry with this exquisite folio from a *Shahnama* (Book of Kings), the monumental epic composed by Abu'l Qasim Firda around 1010 CE. Dating to circa 1330–40, this page captures "The Combat of Khus Parviz and Bahramubina," a dramatic clash between the Sasanian king Khus Parviz (Khosrow II) and the rebel general Bahram Chobin. a national treasure of Iranian literature, the *Shahnama* chronicles over 50 kings through myth, history, and moral tales, blending heroism with tragedy to affirm Persian identity. Crafted during the Ilkhanid period under Mongo...
About the Artist
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi · 935–1020
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, born around 940 in the village of Paj near Tus in Khorasan (modern-day Iran), emerged from a family of landed gentry known as dehqans, who preserved ancient Iranian oral traditions amid the cultural renaissance of the Samanid Empire. Little is documented about his early life or formal training, though he likely received a basic education including Arabic literacy, immersing h...