Illustrations from the First Small Shahnama, Baghdad, c.1300, showing Ilkhanid Mongols

Zahhak bound on mount Damavand Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	The King of Yemen receives Faridun's sons Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Geneva	Manuchihr kills Tur in battle Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Zal is Restored to his Father Sam by the Simurgh Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York	Rudaba and Zal together Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Zal displays his skills before Manuchihr Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Sam visits Zal and Rustam Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	The second battle between Nauzar and Afrasiyab Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Rustam catches Rakhsh Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Rustam lifts Afrasiyab by the belt Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Rakhsh Kills a Lion while Rustam is Asleep Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York	Rustam confronts the divs after killing Arzhang Museum funf Kontinente, Munich
Rustam mortally wounds Suhrab Chester Beatty Library, Dublin		Sudaba accuses Siyavush Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Guruy executes Siyavush Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.	Faramarz captures Surkha, son of Afrasiyab Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Giv finds Kay Khusrau in Turan Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Kay Khusrau reviews his troops Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Bizhan pursues Tazhav, who carries Ispanay on his horse Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Rivniz dies, but Bahram saves his crown Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Ruhham overcomes Bazur the Turanian wizard Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Rustam kills Ashkabus and his horse Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Rustam captures and kills Kamus Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Rustam overturns Chingish by seizing the tail of his horse Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Rustam fights Sava Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Rustam pulls the Khaqan of Chin from his elephant Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Rustam overthrows Puladvand Chester Beatty Library, Dublin	Gustaham kills Lahhak Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Kay Khusrau gives a safe conduct to Afrasiyab's family Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.	The execution of Afrasiyab Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York	Gushtasp kills a wolf in Rum Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Isfandiyar's second labour: he fights the lions Museum funf Kontinente, Munich	Rustam boasts about his strength Museum of Fine Arts, Boston	Iskandar kills the Abyssinian monster Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Bahram Gur fights two lions to win the throne Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City	Bahram Gur with Barzin's daughters Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York	Anushirvan displays his prowess before Babak Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Anushirvan Receives Mihras, Envoy of Caesar Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York	Buzurjmihr arranges chess pieces before Anushirvan Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York	The musician Barbad plays for Khusrau Parviz Los Angeles County Museum of Art, M.73.5.406

Although the arts of the book in Iran enjoyed great prestige prior to the Mongol invasion of the mid-thirteenth century, the earliest extant illustrated manuscripts date from the reign of the Ilkhanid dynasty (1256-1336). Among this group are several copies of the Shahnama (Book of kings), the Persian national epic. Composed in the year 1010 by the poet Firdawsi, the Shahnama recounts the stories of legendary and historical kings and heroes. Its colourful combination of fact and fantasy has meant that it is the most frequently illustrated text in Iran. The earliest known copies are referred to as the first and second "small" Shahnama, respectively.

The folios of the First Small Shahnama are dispersed in a number of collections. The reconstructed order of the folios is from the former Shahnama Project

Other Illustrations of Ilkhanid Mongols and Successors in 13th & 14th Century Persia and surrounds

Persian Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers
Index of Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers