شاهنامۀ فردوسی

Walters Ms. W.600, Book of kings (Shahnama)

Walters Ms. W.600, Book of kings (Shahnama)

Shāhnāmah

شاهنامه

Firdawsī (author)

Abū al-Qāsim Ḥasan ibn Isḥāq Firdawsī Ṭūsī (author)

ابو القاسم حسن بن اسحاق فردوسى طوسى (author)

This is an illuminated and illustrated Safavid copy of the Book of kings (Shāhnāmah) by Firdawsī (d. 411 or 416 AH / 1020-5 CE), dating to the tenth century AH / sixteenth CE. The text is largely written in black nastaʿlīq script with headings in blue on a polychrome ground. The codex opens with an illuminated medallion (fol. 1a), followed by a double-page illuminated frontispiece (fols. 1b-2a), poorly preserved. The preface, ordered by Bāysunghur in 829 AH / 1425-6 CE, begins on fol. 2b. The Shāhnāmah text begins on fol. 14b with an inscribed illuminated titlepiece. It is divided into two parts. Eighteen paintings illustrate the text. The black lacquer binding with lobed central ovals and pendants is not contemporary with the manuscript and dates to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W600/description.html

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.

Eighteen illustrations; double-page illuminated frontispiece with a faded inscription in four cartouches introducing the work and author (fols. 1b-2a); illuminated medallion (shamsah) (fol. 1a); titlepiece with the inscription aghāz-i kitāb-i Shāhnāmah in white ink on a decorated background (fol. 14b); titlepiece inscribed with the title of the second part: Kitāb-i Luhrāsb nāmah (fol. 303b); three tailpieces around the colophons (fols. 14a, 303a, and 620a); rectangular panels for chapter/section headings; frame

fol. 1a Illuminated medallion Medallion This illuminated medallion (shamsah) with a blue ground and gold arabesques and polychrome roundels opens the codex. There are later inscriptions, including an ownership entry dated 12 Jumādá I 1204 AH / 1789 CE. The seal at the left gives the name Aḥmad.

fol. 1b Double-page illuminated frontispiece Frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece that precedes the preface of the text. The inscriptions are not legible.

fol. 2a Double-page illuminated frontispiece Frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece that precedes the preface of the text. The inscriptions are not legible.

fol. 2b Text page of Shāhnāmah preface Text page This is the first page of the preface ordered by Bāysunghur in 829 AH / 1425-6 CE. The text is largely written in black nastaʿlīq script with incidentals in blue and gold. The preface ends on fol. 14a with a colophon.

fol. 14b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This illuminated titlepiece is inscribed aghāz-i kitāb-i Shāhnāmah (the beginning of the book of the Shāhnāmah) in white ink on a blue ground with polychrome decoration.

fol. 17b The court of Kayūmars Illustration

fol. 48b Zāl in the court of Miḥrāb of Kabul Illustration

fol. 91a Rustam slays the White Dīv (the seventh feat) Illustration

fol. 115a Rustam mortally wounds Suhrāb Illustration

fol. 145a The beheading of Siyāvush Illustration

fol. 163a Kay Khusraw attacks the fortress of Bahman Illustration

fol. 178a The Turanians fight the Persians Illustration

fol. 216a The combat of Rustam and Pūlādvand Illustration

fol. 236b Rustam rescues Bīzhan from the pit Illustration

fol. 264b Gustaham fights Lahhāk and Farshīdvard Illustration

fol. 303b Luhrāsp enthroned Illustration This is the right side of a double-page illustration introducing the Book of Luhrāsp. The inscription in the middle eight-pointed star of the titlepiece reads: Kitāb-i Luhrāsb nāmah.

fol. 367a Rustam kills Isfandiyār with an arrow Illustration

fol. 387b Alexander the Great and the dying Darius Illustration

fol. 421a Ardashīr recognizes Shāpūr during a polo game Illustration

fol. 442a Bahrām Gūr hunting with Āzādah Illustration

fol. 544a Bahrām Gur enthroned after killing two lions Illustration

fol. 620b A festive gathering in a landscape Illustration

10th century AH / 16th CE; damaged date in the colophon reads: end of Dhū al-Ḥijjah 9[?]5

Seal impression with the name Aḥmad (fol. 1a)

Ownership entry dated 12 Jumādá I 1204 AH / 1789 CE (fol. 1a)

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Persian

paper

image/jpeg

1501

All Walters manuscript images and descriptions provided here are copyrighted © The Walters Art Museum.