The description and the study of Rostam’s array in Shahnameh, Paris manuscript 953HG

Rostam, reputed as one who wears a talismanic tiger skin is a preeminent legendary hero in the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi. Ferdowsi dresses him with an armor called Babre Bayan, and a hat made from the skin of the white demon according to the epic narratives in the west.  Therefore this array becomes Rostam’s pictorial identity seen in most illustrated editions of Shahnmeh.  Among the illustrated copies, Paris manuscript 953 belonging to the second school in Tabriz and Gazvin in the Safavid period is regarded a suitable source for the purpose of this article since it displays clear pictures of Rostam’s garments.   Since cultural symbols in myths are represented in the art works this research is a step taken to identify and find the origin of the symbols and in this way one can also determine to what extent historical pictures correspond with the mythic symbols.  This article raises the question that to what extent the illustrator of the Paris edition used clothing to portray Rostam as a legendary epic figure?  According to the studies conducted it was verified that the illustrator of the Paris 953 edition had been well informed of the Shahnameh text, and under the influence of narrative imagery in portraying Rostam in battle, had profited from the clothing in order to induce the mythic character of Rostam while remaining loyal to the customary example of this time that is the Safavid era.  This point must be emphasized that the artist of the tenth century due to the existence of appropriate artistic and scientific opportunities and the ability to access the illustrated editions of preceding centuries was cultivated in a milieu where he could express his artistic talents by using clothing with utmost care in such a way to portray Rostam’s massive extraordinary strength in Shahnameh 953.