No. 5 Faridun mourns over the head of Iraj
Ferdowsi, Shahnameh
Turkman: Shiraz, 4 July 1486
Scribe: Ghiyas al-Din b. Bayazid sarraf (banker)
Opaque watercolour, ink and gold on paper
London, British Library, MS Add. 18188, vol. I, fol. 55v
King Faridun divided his lands among his three sons. Salm received Rum (the East Roman world), Tur Turan (Central Asia) and Iraj the best part of the kingdom, Iran. The envious brothers murdered Iraj and sent his head to Faridun, provoking centuries-long wars between Iran and Turan. Here, we see Faridun grieving over Iraj’s head in his beloved son’s garden.
Beside Faridun, two cypress trees, symbolic of youth and grace, are embraced by a flowering prunus.
