The Birth of Rustam, from the Shahnama of Firdausi
Iranian
Description
Rustam is one of the most beloved figures in the Shahnama. Like his grandfather Sam and father Zal before him, he embodies superhuman strength, courage, and endurance, as well as complete loyalty to the shah.
Rustam’s first appearance in the tale is at the moment of his birth, by Caesarian section. The artist unflinchingly depicts the operation, with Rustam half-emerged from his mother Rudaba’s side. The accompanying text reads:
“Why hast thou grown so wan?”
Rudaba answered:
“By night and day I cry for help. I lie
Sleepless and withered like a living corpse.
My time hath come but not deliverance.” …
There came an archimage,* one deft of hand,
Who made the moon-faced dame bemused with wine,
Then pierced her side while she was all unconscious,
And having turned the infant’s head aright
Delivered her uninjured. None had seen
A thing so strange. The babe was like a lion,
A hero tall and fair to look upon.
A day and night the mother lay asleep,
Bemused, unconscious. They the while sewed up
The wound and eased the anguish with the dressing. … Then they brought the babe
To her, extolling him as heavenly.
Warner, I, 320–22
* archimage: a great magi, i.e. a Zoroastrian priest, magician, or physician
———
Maribeth Graybill, Senior Curator of Asian Art
Exhibited in "A Medieval Masterpiece from Baghdad: the Ann Arbor Shahnama"
August 14 through December 19, 2004
Subject Matter:
The Birth of Rustam
"Why hast thou grown so wan?"
Rudaba answered:
"By night and day I cry for help. I lie
Sleepless and withered like a living corpse.
My time hath come but not deliverance."
There came an archimage, one deft of hand,
Who made the moon-faced damee bemused with wine,
Then pierced her side while she was all unconsious,
And having turned the infant's head aright
Delivered her uninjured. None had seen
A thing so strange. The babe was like a lion,
A hero tall and fair to look upon.
A day and night the mother lay asleep,
Bemused, unconscious. They the while sewed up
The wound and eased the anguish with the dressing.
Then they brought the babe
To her, extolling him as heavenly.
Physical Description:
This painted miniature Shahnama page was made by the Shiraz and Timurid schools, ca. 1460 in Baghdad, Iraq. The painting is done in ink, opaque watercolor and gold leaf on paper. The scene depicts the Birth of Rustam from the Shahnama, the Persian book of kings.
Usage Rights:
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