Festivals and Films

Shah-nameh. Heroic Times. 1000 Years of the Persian Book of Kings

From 21 Mar 2011 to 18 Jun 2011

22 March - 19 June. This exhibition examines a world of kings and heroes as described in The Persian Book of Kings or Shah-nameh, written 1,000 years ago by the Persian poet Ferdowsi (935-1020).

Comprising more than 50,000 rhyming couplets, the tome is one of the longest literary texts ever produced and is approximately twice the length of Homer's epics. It relates the history of the old kings of Iran, from their mythical beginnings to their conquest by the Arabs in 651 BC.

Ferdowsi spent 25 years composing the work before its completion in 1010 BC. Berlin's unique collection of decorative manuscripts relating to the Shah-nameh are on display, illustrating the influence of the epic on Persia over the centuries.

Mon-Wed 10.00-18.00, Thurs 10.00-22.00, Fri-Sun 10.00-18.00.