Siyavush's Fire Ordeal; page from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)

Artist Unidentified artist

Date15th century

MediumOpaque watercolors and gold on paper

DimensionsImage: 9 3/8 × 5 1/2 inches (23.8 × 14 cm);
Sheet: 12 5/8 × 7 7/8 inches (32.1 × 20 cm)

CultureIran, Shiraz

PeriodSafavid period

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineGift of Professor M. H. Abrams, in honor of Frank Robinson

Terms

Paintings
Persian
Opaque watercolor
Gold
Horses
Flowers
Men
Arrows
Paper

Object number2011.007.023

Label CopyThe great Persian epic, the Shahnama (Book of Kings) recounts the history of Iran from the creation of the world to the Islamic conquest. It was completed in the early eleventh century by Abu’l Qasim Firdawsi in the form of a long poem of 50,000 rhyming couplets. This page illustrates the fire ordeal of Siyavush, son of the Iranian king Kay Ka’us. As predicted by an astrologer, Siyavush suffers a series of misfortunes during his lifetime and ultimately comes to a tragic end. His first tribulation as a young man occurs when his stepmother falls in love with him. After he refuses her advances, she seeks revenge by accusing him of trying to seduce her. The angry king Kay Ka’us orders his son to undergo a test of fire. With divine protection Siyavush rides through the flames unscathed, thereby proving his innocence.

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