Kay-Khusraw crossing the sea From a copy of the Shahnama by Firdawsi Shiraz, Iran. Inju dynasty, dated AH 741 (1431 CE) Purchase F1942.12 The celebrated Persian poet Firdawsi (died 1020) completed the Shahnama (Book of Kings) around the year 1010. Consisting of approximately fifty-thousand verses, this epic--one of the longest poems ever written--narrates the history of Iran from the creation of the world to the fall of the Sassanian dynasty in the seventh century. This folio is from one of the earliest known illustrated copies of the Shahnama. It was created in the southern region of Fars during the rule of the Injus (1325-1353), who were vassals of the Mongol Il-Khanid rulers. The narrof format, limited palette and extensive use of red background are characteristic of early Shahnama copies. This folio depicts the sea journey of King Kay-Khusraw and the fantastic and strange beasts he encountered.
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/25 sec ISO: 2000