Oldest copies of Shahnameh at Italian, British & Iranian museums

The National Central Library of Florence in Italy and the Museum of London are preserving the oldest dated copy of Shahnameh (Book of Kings), the world’s longest epic poem by renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi.

A manuscript dating back to the eighth century is also being preserved at the National Library and Archives of Iran.

According to the public relations of the National Library and Archives of Iran, the oldest dated version of the poem at Iranian libraries dates back to 809 AH, which is preserved at the Library of Senate of Iran and the second oldest version is known as the Shahnameh of Baysanghori dating back to 833 AH, which is kept at the Golestan Library in capital Tehran.

There is another undated manuscript in Iran known as Sa’dloo which is believed to be more important than other manuscripts since it dates back to the end of the seventh century or the first half of the eighth century.

However, none of the Shahnameh manuscripts in Iranian libraries are as old or authentic as the ones being kept at the National Central Library of Florence in Italy and the Museum of London.

The long-lasting permanence of the Persian language is indebted to the famous Iranian poet Ferdowsi. He designed the Persian language and literature in such a way that his epic book Shahnameh, about the Persian kings that took him three decades to write, played a key role in the revival of this language and spread the Persian literature beyond the borders of Iran.

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Iran to commemorate National Day of Ferdowsi

MM/FM