Persian Pictorial Kashan (Bahram and Fitnah) – 7’1″ x 4’5″

Description

The impulsive salve girl Fitnah is condemned to death for refusing to praise her king. She declares she is unimpressed by one of this remarkable feats of archery, saying that his achievement was only a result of practice. She declares she is unimpressed by one of his remarkable feats of archery, saying that his achievement was only a result of practice. Sentenced to die, Fitnah is saved from execution and hidden by a high official of the royal court who understands his true loyalty to the king. They wait patiently for an opportunity to correct the situation. Years later, concealed by a disguise, Fitnah performs an almost impossible feat of strength for Bahram. She astonishes the visiting monarch by carrying a fully-grown ox up sixty steps in the officer’s castle. Courageously removing her disguise to reveal herself to the king, Fitnah explains she had not praised him for fear of attracting the evil eye. She boldly tells him she had acquired her unusual ability by constant practice, the same method he had employed to acquire his skills in archery. Each day during her years of exile, she had carried the ox up the steps of the castle beginning when it was a small calf. Surprised and delighted to find her alive, Bahram immediately repents of his former impulsive behaviour and he marries Fitnah. By her constancy in adversity over a long period of time, Fitnah was transformed from a wilful young woman into a spiritual guide capable of leading Bahram to an understanding of the true nature of kingship.