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Hormuz Forces His High Priest to Eat Poisoned Food... c1485-1495. Creators: Unknown, Ferdowsi
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Hormuz Forces His High Priest to Eat Poisoned Food... c1485-1495. Creators: Unknown, Ferdowsi
Hormuz Forces His High Priest to Eat Poisoned Food, Page from a Manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdawsi, Iran, Shiraz, c1485-1495. Hormuz (Hormozd IV, r. 579-590), the son of the Sasanian ruler Khusraw I Anushirvan (r. 531-579), garnered a tyrannical, if not evil reputation that persisted through the centuries, even by the time Firdawsi (d. 1020) penned his epic Shahnama (Book of Kings, completed in 1010), which retold the pre-Islamic history of Iran
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Media ID 36349774
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6th Century Abu Ol Qasem Mansur Abul Qasim Firdausi Book Of Kings Epic Of Kings Epic Poem Ferdowsi Ferdowsi Abu Ol Qasem Mansur Firdausi Firdausi Firdawsi Firdaws¯i High Priest Ink Opaque Watercolor And Gold On Paper Iran Iranian Manuscripts Middle Eastern Persia Persian Poem Poison Poisoned Priest Sasanian Sasanian Empire Sassanid Empire Shah Nameh Shahnama Shahnamah Shahnameh Shiraz Folios
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EDITORS COMMENTS
"This stunning folio from a 15th-century manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi (Abu ol Qasem Mansur Firdawsī, 940-1020) depicts a pivotal moment in the story of Hormuz (Hormozd IV, r. 579-590), the notoriously tyrannical and perhaps evil son of the Sasanian ruler Khusraw I Anushirvan (r. 531-579). The scene shows Hormuz, seated regally on a colorful throne, forcing his high priest, Abu Mansur, to consume poisoned food. This act of betrayal and cruelty was a common theme in the epic poem, which retold the pre-Islamic history of Iran. The intricately detailed illustration is rendered in ink opaque watercolor and gold on paper, with each figure and object meticulously crafted. The high priest, dressed in traditional Persian attire, is shown in a state of despair as he eats the poisoned food, while Hormuz, with a smug expression, looks on. The richly decorated furniture and ornate furnishings in the background add to the grandeur and opulence of the scene. The Shahnama manuscript is a testament to the artistic and literary heritage of Persia and the Middle East, and this particular folio is a prime example of the intricate and beautiful illustrations that adorned these manuscripts. The scene of Hormuz and the high priest is a powerful depiction of the complex relationships between monarchs and religious figures in Persian history, and serves as a reminder of the enduring influence of the Shahnama on Persian literature and culture." This image is from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and is not to be used for commercial purposes. The exact date of the manuscript is estimated to be between 1485 and 1495. The manuscript is a national cultural treasure of Iran and an important addition to the LACMA collection.
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