Peer Perspective: The First Joust of the Rooks
From the Shahnameh (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, the 16th-century painting Dr. Sheila Canby illustrates the first of 11 jousts between champions or “rooks” from Iran and their foes, the Turanians. On the Iranian side of the first joust was Faribuz, son of Shah Kay Kavus, while the Turanians fielded Kalbad, the brother of the king.