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FerdowsiPersian poet, author of the epic poem "Shahnameh" (Book of Kings)
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Dive |
Content:
- Firdowsi: Persian Poet and Epic Master
- Career and "Shahnameh"
- Conflict with Mahmud and Exile
- Recognition and Legacy
Firdowsi: Persian Poet and Epic Master
Early Life and EducationBorn into a Shia-Ismaili family of landowners sometime between 932 and 936 CE near Tus, Khorasan, Firdowsi (meaning "Paradisiacal") hailed from a relatively modest background. Despite his family's financial struggles, Firdowsi received a well-rounded education, becoming proficient in both Arabic and Persian, the literary languages of his time. His passion for knowledge earned him the nickname "Hakim" ("Sage" or "Scholar").
Career and "Shahnameh"
Firdowsi's early life coincided with a period of political upheaval in Iran, as local feudal lords reasserted their authority after years of Arab domination. Firdowsi spent a significant part of his life in Ghazna, serving as a court poet for Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. His magnum opus, the epic poem "Shahnameh" ("Book of Kings"), was dedicated to Mahmud and spanned the history of Iran from its mythical origins to the Islamic conquest. However, the poem's emphasis on the divine right of kings displeased Mahmud, who believed in rule by force.
Conflict with Mahmud and Exile
Legend has it that Mahmud refused to fully pay Firdowsi for the "Shahnameh." Enraged, Firdowsi penned a satirical poem accusing the sultan of being descended from a slave. This outrage forced Firdowsi to flee into exile, where he lived in poverty until his death. D. Kedrin's poem "Dowry" was inspired by this tragic episode.
Recognition and Legacy
Years later, a courtier recited a powerful verse from the "Shahnameh" to Mahmud, prompting the sultan to inquire about its author. Upon discovering Firdowsi's identity and his impoverished state, Mahmud dispatched a substantial gift to Tus. However, Firdowsi had passed away shortly before the gifts arrived. Ironically, as his body was being carried to the graveyard, Mahmud's camels laden with riches entered the city from the opposite gate.
Firdowsi's literary legacy is immense. The "Shahnameh" remains a revered masterpiece in Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, elevating Firdowsi to the status of a national poet. In 1934, a mausoleum was erected on his tomb in commemoration of the тысячелетие since his birth. Boris Kimyagerov directed a trilogy of films based on the "Shahnameh" in the 1970s. Firdowsi's work continues to inspire and captivate readers around the world.
