Heroic times

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In 2010, the millennium of the Persian Book of Kings, an epic by poet Abu’l-Qasim Firdausi, was commemorated. This monumental work, comprising over 50,000 verses, chronicles the history of ancient Iran's kings from their mythical origins to the Arab conquest and the advent of Islam in 642 AD. To celebrate this anniversary, the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin and the Oriental Department of the Berlin State Library collaborated to enhance appreciation for this literary masterpiece and its artistic legacy. The Shahnama has profoundly influenced Persian book illustration, making it a pivotal focus of their project. The exhibition showcased remarkable treasures, including early Shahnama illustrations from the 14th century, particularly notable examples from the Diez Albums housed in the Berlin State Library. Additionally, the exhibition featured rare Persian and Indian manuscript illustrations, ceramics, lacquer work, weapons, early printed books, textiles, important documents, and pre-Islamic Iranian artworks. These items included holdings from the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and significant loans from Edmund de Unger, the Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin (DHM), and various private collectors, providing a comprehensive view of the Shahnama's artistic impact.