Anonymous: Kai Kavus Attempts to Fly to Heaven (15th century)

(Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA)

An illuminated page made by an unknown Indian artist. This page comes from a Shahnama (Book of Kings), a long epic poem about the history of the world, Iran, the introduction of the arts of civilization and the Islamic conquest of Iran. In the episode illustrated here, the prince Kai Kavus attempts to fly to heaven by fastening young eagles to his throne. The craft flew the king all the way to China, where the eagles grew tired and the craft came down. The hero Rostam eventually had to rescue the prince who, miraculously, survived the crash. The painting shows Kai Kavus, in a gold-domed throne, holding a piece of meat to entice the eagles. Page from the mid-15th century.