This exhibit focuses on a literary passage from the Shahnameh; Sekandar sees a Corpse in the Palace of Topazes, and a main artifact, a 17th century brocade cover with elaborate floral and metal thread patterning. The chosen monster is a corpse of a man with the head of a boar, as depicted in the passage. I will use a literary analysis of the passage and analysis of the artifact to illuminate the monster and draw upon its role in acting as a parallel character for Sekandar and as an omen for foreshadowing death in the Shahnameh.
