Imaginary Pole Press: Colorful roc flew in the air, predicting that the princess would give birth to a hero who would descend the dragon and the tiger, and the child would be greeted by a divine doctor who could perform a caesarean section.
The 60,000-line Persian national epic of Ferdosi (941-1020) spans more than 4,000 years, from groundbreaking writing to the destruction of the Sassanid Empire by the Arab Empire in 651 AD. It briefly describes the life deeds of fifty emperors and princes in Persian history, and the whole book is divided into three parts: myths and legends, warrior stories, and historical stories. The "Warrior Story", which accounts for about half of the book, is the essence of the book, recounting the adventures of the most famous Persian national hero, Rostam. Today, we will cooperate with the miniature painting to make a brief suspense to explain history.
▲ Muhammad Zaman's Book of Kings, illustration "The Roc Bird Flew to Help Rustam Be Born", 1675-1676, ink painting on paper, gold miniature, 40.8 x 26.1 cm
Collection of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland
Rustam's father was Zal, who once sent an envoy to the kingdom of Kabul and made a lifelong engagement with the country's princess Rudabe. Rudabe was pregnant in October and gave birth, but unexpectedly encountered difficult delivery. In the midst of the pain, colorful roc flew from the air, predicting to her that she would be born a hero who would descend the dragon and the tiger, and the child would be greeted by a divine doctor who could perform a caesarean section.
▲ The Age of Kings, illustration "Birth of Rustam", 1560-1580, opaque watercolor on paper, miniature painting of gold, 28.6 x 18.4cm
Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
After rustam was born, he quickly grew into a powerful young hero, killing the white elephant who broke free of the chains of the Marshal's Mansion and endangered the people with a stick. After Rustam became an adult, endless conflicts broke out between Iran and Turan. The two countries fought each other, each of them was its main commander, and Rustam, dressed in tiger skin, became the first warrior to charge for Iran.
▲ Sultan Muhammad, "Sleeping Rustam Saved from a Lion's Mouth by a Horse", 1515-1522, watercolor on paper, gold miniature, 31.8 x 20.8 cm
Collection of the British Museum, London, UK
Rustam not only retrieved the royal descendant, Gobad, from the depths of the mountains and helped him sit on the dragon chair, but also repeatedly repelled Iran's old enemies and rescued Iranian generals who were besieged by enemy troops. After the death of King Gobad of Iran, he was succeeded by his son Kaus. Kaus listened to the yokai's transformation into a singer, and despite the objections of his courtiers, he sent an army to attack the beautiful Mazandaran, only to be blinded by the white devil cast by the opposing king. Kaus asks Rustam for help, and the hero rushes to the rescue of seven levels in a row. Helping the warrior through the first level was his red rabbit horse, Lahsh, who subdued a sneaking lion while his master was asleep.
▲ Muhammad Zaman's Chronicles of kings, illustration "Sleeping Rustam saved from the lion's mouth by a horse", 1675-1676, ink painting on paper depicting gold miniature, 40.8 x 26.2 cm
Rustam passed the first hurdle and walked into the desert, where he could not find a source of water, and he fell to his knees in the hot sun to pray to Allah. At this time, a ram passed, and Rustam felt that this was a good omen given to him by the Allah, so he stood up and followed the ram to the fountain, and the warrior did not forget to thank the Allah for his kindness when he drank the sweet spring.
▲ "Book of Kings" illustration "Rustam Slaying Dragon"
Collection of the Walters Museum of Art, Baltimore, USA
After this level, when Rustam walked into the forest, it was already midnight, and the people were sleepy and tired, so they fell asleep. At this time, a dragon emerged from the ground and tried several times to harm the hero. Fortunately, Junmalahesh was unusually alert and kept reminding Rustam. Helplessly, the night is like paint, the hero sleeps dimly, can't see the demons and ghosts, and can't help but blame Lahesh for disturbing good dreams. The evil dragon gradually approached, the horse was anxious, and the warrior slept soundly, hanging on to the line. To find out what Rustam's life is, and listen to the next breakdown.