Introduction

Written by poet Ferdowsi in the 10th century, the Shahnameh (“The Book of Kings”) is a Persian epic poem that combines real world history with the mythical past of the Persian Empire in celebration of Persian culture prior to the Muslim conquest. Of the many tales told within the Shahnameh is the story of Sekandar (Alexander the Great) and his ambitions for conquest. The selected passage sees Sekandar encounter a palace made of topazes deep within the mountains filled with rich yet unusual objects and an enthroned corpse with a boar’s head. Through the main artifact (a textile with boar’s heads) and its supporting objects of interest, this exhibit will explore Ferdowsi’s use of objects (primarily the boar’s head and the brocade covering) and their context in post-Sasanian Iran and the greater Medieval period to help enrich the scene’s atmosphere and illustrate the purpose of Sekandar’s encounter with the eerie palace of topazes.