Shahnama (the book of kings)

**beauchamp** · 07-13-2006, 17:46

I have been obsessing over Persian history for awhile, as well as Islamic history. In studying these two cultures, it is imperative to study the "Shahnama" or "book of kings". It is the largest amount of prose ever written by one man, spanning over thousands of chapters. It was written shortly after the invasion of persia by the arabs by Firduwarsi, an old poet who lived in Khorosan in eastern persia near the Transoxia border. The legend goes that he converted to Islam and praised it but still secretly worshiped and supported Zoroastrianism within his community and in his "Shahnama"

The book itself is a simple history of Persia, from the dawn of time unto the battle of Qadiyya and the Arab invasion. It is a selective history, strangely leaving out Darius, Cyrus and Xerxes. Instead, he talks more about the hero Rustam and the epic battles waged against the Turanians (uzbeks, turkomans), whom are the Iranians bitter rivals. He does mention Iskander (Alexander) and praises him, but tells a different history of this mans famous reign. Instead of the great victories of Gaugamela and Ipsos, he visits the Ka'ba, fights dragons, marries persians, conquers Hindustan and forces China into submission. He also ends the line of persian heros when he slays Rustam, the greatest hero of the Iranian peoples.

The story continues on to talk about the Sassanids and their betrayal and deafeat by the Arabs in the 700's.

The story is accompanied by many Chinese-esque portraits that have made persian art famous. Most of these were comprised during the reign of the Safavids (1400-1700) and feature classic safavid cloths, arms and buildings.

Here is a link if anyone should want to view the pictures and murals, but no actuall story can be found online, and if one was willing to purchase a copy of this huge story, it would cost them around 200$.

http://www.oriental.cam.ac.uk/shah/

Hope this was interesting,
-Beauchamp

**AntiochusIII** · 07-14-2006, 01:35

Shahnama is a complex (and humongous) piece of literature, and indeed fascinating. I'm not quite familiar with it enough to participate in a full-blown discussion but from what bits and pieces I've read and learned about it I find it to be guided to the glorification of Persia--no matter the religion--than, say, establishing Islamic credentials in the realm.

Which is quite interesting; an indirect expression of Islam's relative tolerance and academic maturity in the time period, as well as Persia's own awareness of its own rich history. Not to mention a sort of anti-Arab sentiment within it.

It is, of course, very fictional in execution, just like any other major epics.

By the way, what is your opinion on the omissions of obvious Persian heroes like Cyrus and Darius, and the Achaemenids in general?

**beauchamp** · 07-14-2006, 01:55

Glad someone responded, A Salaam Aleikum to you, Antiochus!
I think that actually Darius was mentioned as 'Dara' and had a son by the same name, but im very surprised that Cyrus was not mentioned. I think it is because Firduwarsi wanted to focus more on the hatred of the Turainians and to promote more of an sense that Iran was always threatened by Divs, Turanians, Hindus and Turks. I think he didnt want to mention empire because it would have made it seem like Iran had it easy going.

Sometime, I would really enjoy reading the collection, but I do not think that their is a readily available translation, and although I can read Arabic, and "sound out the script" I cannot understand Farsi...

I am going to Europe pretty soon, to stay in Tiroll, although I will be traveling most of Austria, and mostly speaking German, I am also going to try and engage with the Iranian minority in Austria. See if I can get any more info on the epic and on history.

If you are interested, I would take a look at the link above, it is the most in depth and interesting resource I have found.

Ma'salema,
Beauchamp

**Vladimir** · 07-14-2006, 12:52

No real mention of the Greeks at all? To me the struggle and differences between Greece and Persia symbolized the fight between ancient East and West.

**AntiochusIII** · 07-14-2006, 13:37

From what I've read so far (and that's but little), it's not an anti-Greek work at all. Iskander (Alexander) was mentioned as a hero. A (stretched) example would be the glorification of Hector in the Iliad, though Iskander wins, of course. The epic focuses on him attacking enemies East of Persia though. An ancient, if relatively low-key trend in the conquered area of the Macedonian Empire was to "make Alexander theirs." It's not entirely strange either considering how many versions of the Ramayana are there in Asia. Countries like Thailand, Burma, (roughly) Indonesia, and others had long adopted this Indian epic as their own national epics.

It's quite natural considering Persia by the time of the author's life no longer had any real direct contact with anything remotely similar to a threatening Greek Empire, whereas the other groups in the region loom dangerously at the border, from the Turks, the Arabs, to the less well-known groups in the North and East.

beauchamp: thanks for the site! It really is comprehensive, though sadly doesn't contain the actual (translated) texts themselves in full. I really don't have the money for the entire, massive thing.

**beauchamp** · 07-14-2006, 15:49

Firduwarsi I belive wanted to create an epic based on Persia during its past and in dealing with Invaders to inspire the persians to keep their cultural heritage and not become fully assimilated with the Arabs. It in fact did, the Shahnemeh then on was in every Persian household and was even required reading and reciting. I belive that this sence of "Iranian unity" was present and it helped to fuel the Abbasidds (Many of whom were angered old Sassanid lords that had converted to Islam and wanted more freedoms for Iranians) and Invertainly, controled the Arab world by working through the Caliphs court in Baghdad.