The image of Alexander (Iskandar) encountering the wondrous talking tree in the Shahnama is a fascinating blend of myth, prophecy, and fantastical imagery. In this particular folio from the Great Mongol Shahnama, the tree takes on an even more vivid character under the hand of the Ilkhanid artist, who expands on Firdawsi’s original vision with surreal additions of human and animal heads among its branches. This reimagining elevates the tree into a multi-sensory spectacle, where each head seems to contribute to a chaotic chorus, producing a “cacophony” that signals both the magical and ominous.

The choice to enhance the tree with these talking “fruits” may reflect the Mongol ruler’s fascination with omens and prophecies—especially ones tied to power and legacy. It’s also a striking example of how the Shahnama has been adapted visually and culturally through time, adding layers of meaning specific to its context while retaining the universal themes of fate and ambition. This artwork would indeed be a striking piece to experience in person, emphasizing the richness of Persian manuscript traditions and the enduring allure of Alexander as a figure who spans both mythic and historical realms.

Monumental in size and boldly illustrated, the Great Mongol Shahnama is one of the most celebrated manuscripts of medieval Persia. Completed by the poet Firdawsi around 1010, the Shahnama (Book of Kings) is considered Iran’s national epic. This specific copy, known as the Great Mongol Shahnama, was produced three hundred years later, likely commissioned by Abu Sa‘id of the Ilkhanid dynasty—a Mongol ruling branch over Iran and West Asia. Within its covers, art, power, and history converge.

The Shahnama recounts Iran’s history from the dawn of time until the fall of the Sasanian dynasty in the seventh century. The illustrations in the Great Mongol Shahnama emphasize historical rulers of Iran’s past, including Alexander the Great (Iskandar in Persian) and pre-Islamic Sasanian kings such as Ardashir I, Bahram Gur, and Khusraw I Anushirvan. These figures were idealized as role models for the Ilkhanid rulers, and the manuscript’s grand paintings underscore how the Ilkhanids saw themselves as part of Iran’s storied legacy.

The exhibition An Epic of Kings at the Smithsonian National Museum for Asian Art presents a rare opportunity to view twenty-five folios from this now-dismantled manuscript. It is the first exhibition to showcase paintings from the Great Mongol Shahnama alongside contemporaneous works from China, the Mediterranean, and the Latin West. This display highlights a unique historical moment of cultural exchange across Eurasia, where goods, people, and ideas circulated with unprecedented intensity, placing Iran at the heart of this vibrant network. The exhibition runs from September 21, 2024 to January 12, 2025.