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Lot Essay
The epic poem Shahnama, or Book of Kings, was composed in 1010 by the Persian poet Firdowsi and recounts the life of the Shahnama's heroic king Rustam, recognizable by his red beard. In the folio depicted here, king Khusraw summons Rustam to help him stop a demon (div) disguised as a wild ass that is ravaging the royal herds. After three days of unsuccessful battle, Rustam falls asleep in the grass, whereupon the div Akvan casts aside his disguise, resumes his demonic form, rushes towards Rustam, and digs up the ground around the hero. Holding him aloft, the Akvan gives Rustam the choice of death by being thrown against the mountains, eaten by lions and onagers, or cast into the sea to drown. Knowing that the div would do the opposite of what he chose, and realizing that being cast into the sea would be his only chance at survival, Rustam asked to be thrown against the mountains. Indeed cast to the sea, the hero swims back to shore and defeats the demon in the next episode.