Accession Number
1963/1.63

Title
Rustam Slays Shaghad and Dies, from the Shahnama of Firdausi

Artist(s)
Iranian

Artist Nationality
Iranian

Object Creation Date
circa 1460

Medium & Support
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold leaf on paper

Dimensions
10 1/2 in. x 7 in. ( 26.7 cm x 17.8 cm )

Subject matter
Rustam Slays Shaghad and Dies

Rakhsh sniffed fresh earth, spun like a ball, and shied, 
Suspicious of the smell, and tore the ground...

Two of his feet went through;
He had no purchase; all below was spear 
And sword; no pluck availed; escape was none;
And so the haunches of the mighty Rakhsh, 
Yet in his manhood he uplifted him, 
And from the bottom bravely gained the brim.

Shaghad drew near, uncased the bow, and strung it.
He drew it once, then laid it down by Rustam,
And laughed exulting at his brother's death.
The matchless hero clutched it lustily, 
Though tortured by the anguish of his wounds, 
What while Shaghad in terror at those arrows
Made haste to shield himself behind a tree...

When Rustam saw this he put forth his hands, 
Sore wounded as he was, and loosed a shaft.
He pinned his brother and the tree together...
 

Physical Description
This Persian miniature is attributed to the Shiraz and Timurid schools, ca. 1460. The painting is done in ink, opaque watercolor and gold leaf on paper. The scene, Rustam Slays Shaghad and Dies, is part of the Shahnama of Firdausi, the Persian book of kings. 

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Iranian Islamic painting styles after the Mongols
Iranian Islamic styles after the Mongols
Persian-Farsi (language)
Shahnama
Timurid
Timurid painting styles
gold leaf
gouaches (paintings)
miniatures (paintings)
shahs
watercolor painting (technique)