Folio page with four columns of 9 lines each, divided by thin black lines. Below is an illustration showing two mounted riders in combat, one shooting a bow. A third rider stands to the left, while three soldiers lurk in the upper right, and there are rocks at the bottom.
AKM51, Bahram Chubin Kills Saveh Shah

© The Aga Khan Museum

Folio page with four columns of black text, each containing 25 lines. The columns are divided by thin brown lines, and are enclosed on all sides by a thin border of brown lines. There are shadows from the illustration on the opposite side of the page.
AKM51, Bahram Chubin Kills Saveh Shah, Back

© The Aga Khan Museum

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Bahram Chubin Kills Saveh Shah
Folio from a manuscript of Shahnameh (Book of Kings) by Firdausi (d. 1020)
  • Accession Number:AKM51
  • Place:Iran, Shiraz
  • Dimensions:32.5 x 23.2 cm
  • Date:1494
  • Materials and Technique:opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper

  • Under siege by various armies, Hormozd IV, the Sasanian king of Iran (r. 579–90), required a competent commander-in-chief for the battle against Saveh Shah, a Central Asian ruler. Hormozd wisely chose Bahram Chubin. Seeing Saveh Shah’s impressive army well-fortified by powerful elephants, Bahram commanded the Iranians to shoot three arrows into each elephant’s trunk. Chaos ensued as Saveh Shah’s army lost control of their elephants. Bahram seized the opportunity to kill Saveh Shah and claim victory for Hormozd IV.

Note: This online resource is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. We are committed to improving this information and will revise and update knowledge about this object as it becomes available.

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