By Professor Olga M. Davidson
Moderator: Dr. Farzin Vahdat
Tuesday May 13th from 7 to 8:30 PM
Professor Olga M. Davidson
The national Persian epic, the Shāhnāma or ‘Book of Kings’, was composed by the poet Ferdowsi over a period extending from the late tenth to the early eleventh century CE. This monumental poem chronicles the rule of Iranian kings from the primordial past till the Arab Conquest, while at the same time celebrating the deeds of such prominent heroes as the mighty warrior Rostam. And it is for this reason that the Shāhnāma can justifiably be described as an epic. Whereas the chronicling of kings is a primary concern of history, it is argued that the celebration of heroes is more clearly related to myth, and this interplay of history and myth can become a source of endless fascination for the modern reader.
Location: Touch Art Gallery
281 Concord Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138