Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This image from an unfinished painting depicts one of the most popular episodes from the life of the pre-Islamic Persian king Bahram Gur (reigned 420–438 CE). A famed hunter, he was challenged by his concubine, Azada, to strike a donkey through its foot and ear with a single arrow. Azada is in the upper right playing the harp on a camel. Bahram Gur successfully meets her challenge at the bottom of the page; he tossed a rock into the donkey’s ear, then fired when the animal tried to kick it loose.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
95059
label
Bahram Gur and Azada, from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)
core
obj
dtoType
manuscript
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
95059
contentType
manuscript
title
Bahram Gur and Azada, from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)
description
This image from an unfinished painting depicts one of the most popular episodes from the life of the pre-Islamic Persian king Bahram Gur (reigned 420–438 CE). A famed hunter, he was challenged by his concubine, Azada, to strike a donkey through its foot and ear with a single arrow. Azada is in the upper right playing the harp on a camel. Bahram Gur successfully meets her challenge at the bottom of the page; he tossed a rock into the donkey’s ear, then fired when the animal tried to kick it loose.
date
1500s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60758065
genreSpecific
Manuscript
imageCount
1
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
tombstone
Bahram Gur and Azada, from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025), 1500s. Iran, Tabriz or Qazvin, Safavid period (1501-1722). Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; sheet: 32.5 x 21.5 cm (12 13/16 x 8 7/16 in.); image: 17.4 x 11 cm (6 7/8 x 4 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust, 1915.597
collection
Islamic Art
dimensions
didYouKnow
The <em>Shahnama</em>, or "Book of Kings," is a monumental epic poem that traces the mythical and historical past of Persia.
citations
citation
<em>Catalogue of the Inaugural Exhibition June 6-September 20, 1916</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1916.
page_number
cat. no. 77
creditline
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
updatedAt
2026-06-10 17:55:36.461000
sourceId
95059
tec
opaque watercolor and gold on paper
dept
Islamic Art
coll
Islamic Art
cul
Iran, Tabriz or Qazvin, Safavid period (1501-1722)
med
opaque watercolor and gold on paper
accession
1915.597
thumbnail_url
image_url
dimensionsRaw
Sheet: 32.5 x 21.5 cm (12 13/16 x 8 7/16 in.); Image: 17.4 x 11 cm (6 7/8 x 4 5/16 in.)
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
de6716819248fdd2