1. Abolquasem Ferdowsi and The Shahnameh "The Funeral of Isfandiyar," leaf from the Great Mongol Shahnamah, ca. 1330s, Iran (probably Tabriz). Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1933 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

2. The Persians

3. Map of the Persian Empire

4. Persepolis: City of the Persians http://www.persepolis3d.com/ Gate of All Nations

7. Persian Immortals: the Royal Guards of Darius Paris, Musée du Louvre

8. The Parthians Parthian prince Parthian city of Hatra

9. Sassanid Persia

11. Ferdowsi in the garden with other poets

12. The Shahnameh epic history of the Persian people begins with creation of the world ends with the Arab conquest mixes myth and fact marks the preservation and re- emergence of the Persian language and Persian heritage.

13. Tus (or Tous) Birthplace of Ferdowsi Mausoleum of Ferdowsi Ruins of the Sassanid citadel at Tus

14. Ghazni today Yesterday: the Kingdom of Rostam

15. Ghazni Afghanistan in the 19 th century

17. Goshtasp throws Esfandiyar in chains

18. Esfandiyar battles the dragon

19. Esfandiyar battles the dragon 2

20. Esfandiyar kills the witch

21. Esfandiyar kills Arsjap and frees his sisters

22. Rostam fights Esfandiyar

24. The great warrior Rostam

25. While you read, think about: cultural definitions of right action vs. wrong action political obligations vs. personal honor family relationships the divine right of kings what it means to be a good king should we preserve cultural history? In the Dragon’s Claws Written in the 11 th Century Set in the 6 th Century (or slightly before) A nostalgic look back at the glorious past...