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Manuscript/Mixed Material Shah-nameh by Firdausi

About this Item

Title

  • Shah-nameh by Firdausi

Summary

  • Shahnameh (Book of kings) was composed by the revered Iranian poet Abū al-Qāsim Firdawsī (940-1020). The book recounts in verse the mythological history of ancient Persia and tales of the famous heroes and personalities of Iranian history, from legendary times to the 7th-century reign of Yazdegerd III, the last king of the Sassanid dynasty. Considered the national epic of Iran, the book was widely read throughout the Persian-speaking world. This manuscript copy was made in India in the 17th or 18th century. The text is written in nastaʻliq script in four columns of 25 lines. The text begins on folio 1b with rubrication and gold interlinear decoration up to folio 3a; folios 1b and 2a have an elaborate border of grape decoration in various shades of green and gold. Catchwords are on the recto pages. The paper is a cream-colored Eastern laid paper. Black ink is used, with highly decorated major ʻunwāns (title pages); minor ʻunwāns are in gold ink, now very faded. Full-page paintings illustrating scenes from the text appear on folios 1a, 144a, 193b, 412b; half-page paintings are on folios 10a, 10b, 127a, 157b, 193a, 230a, and 409a; two small paintings are in the lower corners on folios 133a and 402a. World Digital Library.

Names

  • Firdawsī

Created / Published

  • [17th or 18th century]

Headings

  • -  Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  India

Notes

  • -  Binder's title.
  • -  Early dark brown 20th century Library of Congress binding.
  • -  Folio 1a-422a
  • -  Full page paintings on folios 1a, 144a, 193b, 412b; half-page paintings on folios 10a, 10b, 127a, 157b, 193a, 230a409a; two small paintings in lower corners on folios 133a, 402a.
  • -  Library of Congress. Persian manuscript, 304/37.
  • -  Manuscript.
  • -  Nastaʻliq; 25 lines in written area 25 x 15.5 cm
  • -  Paper: cream-color Eastern laid paper; black ink with with highly decorated major ʻunwāns; minor ʻunwāns in gold ink, now very faded; four columns enclosed in a thin red-blue-yellow border; text begins on folio 1b with rubrication and gold interlinear decoration up to folio 3a; folios 1b and 2a have elaobroate border of grape decoration in various shades of green and gold; catchwords on rectos.
  • -  Written in India.
  • -  Browne, E. G. Literary history of Persia, v. 1, p. 110-123
  • -  Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress website.
  • -  Persian.

Medium

  • 3, 422, 3 leaves (25 lines) bound : paper ; 37.5 x 26 cm

Call Number/Physical Location

  • PK6455 .A1 1600z

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2012498868

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Persian Language Manuscript Project are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Firdawsī. Shah-nameh by Firdausi. [17th or 18th Century, 1600] Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012498868/.

APA citation style:

Firdawsī. (1600) Shah-nameh by Firdausi. [17th or 18th Century] [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012498868/.

MLA citation style:

Firdawsī. Shah-nameh by Firdausi. [17th or 18th Century, 1600] Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2012498868/>.