"Bahram Gur Slays a Dragon", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) 1305 - 1365

"Bahram Gur Slays a Dragon" is a folio from a Shahnama, also known as the "Book of Kings", an epic poem by the Persian poet Abu'l Qasim Firdausi. Completed in 1010 CE, the Shahnama details the history of Persia from its mythical beginnings to the 7th century CE. This folio depicts the Sasanian king Bahram Gur slaying a dragon, a scene from the epic poem. The miniature painting illustrates the text with vibrant colors and intricate detail, typical of the Ilkhanid period in Persia from the 13th to 14th centuries. This manuscript, which is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is an exquisite example of Persian manuscript illumination.