An important horizontal Persian Tabriz rug depicting Rostam and the dragon, wool on cotton, 20th C.

拍品描述

An important horizontal Persian Tabriz rug depicting Rostam and the dragon, wool on cotton, 20th C. 148,5 x 95 cm The Seven Tales of Rustam (هفت خان رستم) were a series of acts carried out by the greatest of the Iranian heroes, Rostam. The story was retold by Ferdowsi in his epic poem, the Shahnameh. The Seven Labours were seven difficult tasks undertaken by Rostam, accompanied, in most instances, only by his faithful and sagacious steed Rakhsh, although in two labours he was accompanied also by the champion, Olad. According to the traditional narrative, the story starts when Kay Kāvus's expedition to Mazandaran fails, and his army is captured by the Divs. Rostam undertakes to liberate it, and achieves his goal by performing the labours. The third labour is the dragon: At midnight a monstrous serpentine dragon emerges from the forest; Rakhsh approaches his sleeping master and neighs and beats the ground so furiously, that he succeeds in waking him. Rostam looks around, but, seeing nothing, because the dragon has already vanished, grumbles and goes back to sleep. The dragon appears a second time and once again the faithful horse succeeds in rousing his master. Rostam is even angrier than before; but at this moment sufficient light is providentially given him to allow him to see the monster that has been causing Rakhsh such alarm. Rostam then slays the dragon.

图片