(c) 2016 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Kay Kaus Captured by the Divs

author Ferdowsi (Tus, Iran, 935 CE)

illuminator Unknown

Date14th century

Place MadeShiraz, Fars province, Iran, Middle East

MediumGold and colors on paper

Dimensions14.5 x 17 cm (5 11/16 x 6 11/16 in.)

ClassificationsManuscripts

Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Accession numberP19w54

Status

Not on view

Web CommentaryThis illumination depicts a scene from the "Shah-nameh" or "Book of Kings," the great Persian epic written in the 10th century by the poet Ferdowsi. Kay Kaus, the brave but foolhardy king of the Iranians, traveled with his army to the enchanted regions of Mazandaran, which was ruled by the evil Divs (demons) under their great white leader. The king’s capture and subsequent blinding by the Divs serve as the background to a series of adventures encountered by Rustam, chief of the king’s knights, in his attempt to rescue the king. This miniature, preserved with the entire page of text intact, shows the capture of the unfortunate Shah by the White Div, while one Div and the king's army stand by.

Id718716

Last Updated8/14/24

EmbARK ObjectID13430

Source ID2363