"Zahhak Brought as a Prisoner before Faridun", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
last quarter 15th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
Dimensions
H. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm) W. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Richard Ettinghausen, 1975
Accession Number
1975.192.23
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the dramatic folio *"Zahhak Brought as a Prisoner before Faridun from a luxurious 15th-century *Shahnama* (Book of Kings), the epic masterpiece by the poet Abu'l Qasim Firda. This miniature captures a pivotal moment in Persian mythology: the tyrannical king Zahhak, cursed with serpents sprouting from his shoulders and infamous for his cruelty, is humbled and led in chains before the heroic Faridun, who rises to overthrow him. Composed around 1010 CE, Firdausi's *Shahnama* chronicles Iran's mythical kings, blending history, legend, and moral tales of justice prevailing over evil—perfectly embodied here. Crafted in the last quarter of the 15th century, likely in a Persian atelier during the Timurid era, this page exemplifies the golden age of Islamic manuscript illumination. Delicate ink outlines define dynamic figures in flowing robes, brought to life with vibrant opaque watercolors, shimmering gold, and touches of silver on fine paper. At just 5¼ by 5¾ inches, its intimate scale invited royal viewers to savor intricate details, from expressive faces to patterned architecture, showcasing the era's mastery of composition and narrative clarity. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art Department, this gift from Richard Ettinghausen highlights the *Shahnama*'s enduring cultural role as a symbol of Persian identity. For visitors, it offers a window into how art preserved epic stories, inspiring generations with themes of redemption and righteous rule.
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...