ARTH303: GUIDED OBSERVATION 3
ART OF THE BOOK: THE GREAT MONGOL SHAHNAMA (BOOK OF KINGS)
This assignment will focus on how the artists that illustrated copies of the Shahnama
incorporated contemporary art and architecture into their work.
Introduction: The Shahnama or Book of Kings is an epic poem written by Firdawsi (c.
940-1020) that tells the history of Iran from the beginning of time to the Arab conquest.
Divided into legendry and quasi-historical sections, the poem chronicles the reign of fifty
successive Iranian rulers. Attracted by the Shahnama’s emphasis on justice,
legitimacy, and divine glory, foreign and native Iranian rulers commissioned elaborate
illustrated copies of the text. Of these, the Great Mongol Shahnama, completed in the
1330s, is among the most famous. In this assignment, you will read a portion of the
Shahnama and look at its accompanying illustration in the Great Mongol Shahnama to
see how artists illustrated the passage and used contemporary art and architecture in
their work.
Reading: Packard Humanities Institute: Persian Literature in Translation: The
Sháhnáma of Firdausí
Link: Packard Humanities Institute: Persian Literature in Translation: The Sháhnáma of
Firdausí
Instructions: First, read the following portions of the Shahnama: “How the Sages and
Other Folks Lamented Sikander (Iskander)” and How the Mother and Wife of Sikaner
(Iskander) Lamented Him” by first clicking on link for Volume VI and then clicking on the
links that correspond to the above sections (numbers 38 and 39). In the reading,
Arastálís refers to Aristotle, Alexander the Great’s teacher, and Rúshanak to his wife,
Roxanna. Then, click through the image links below, reading the accompanying text.
For the images from the Google Art Project website, you will need to click on “Viewing
Notes” located in the right margin. When you are done, move on to answer the
questions listed below.
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Google Art Project: Freer Gallery of Art: Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
by Firdawsi (d.1020)
Google Art Project: Freer Gallery of Art: Brass candlestick, Repousse, Chased
and Inlaid with Copper and Silver
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Mosque Lamp
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage
above.
The Saylor Foundation 1
Short Answer Questions
1) How are the figures represented in the illustration? How would you describe the
composition? How is grief depicted in the illustration?
2) How does the text interact with the illustration? How faithful have the artists
followed the text of the poem?
3) Objects from or elements of what artistic traditions are present in this illustration?
Name the particular element or object and its country of origin.
4) This particular copy of the Shahnama is noted for its many illustrations of
Iskander (Alexander the Great). Why might the patron of this artwork have
wanted to draw connections between the Ilkhanid court and Alexander the
Great?
The Saylor Foundation 2