The Shahnama (Book of Kings) is an epic Persian poem composed by Firdausi (or Ferdowsi; circa 934-1020) in circa 977-1010. It narrates the legendary and historical past of the Persian Empire until the Arab Muslim conquest in the 7th century. Shahnama manuscripts were frequently produced throughout the Islamic world, including in South Asia. This folio and M.90.160.1 are from a dispersed manuscript that appeared on the art market in the early 1970s.
This folio illustrates a meeting of Gorgin and Bizhan, two legendary early Iranian heroes who had been tasked with killing all the wild boars in nearby Armenia. After Bizhan eradicated the boars alone, he met with the jealous Gorgin who leads him astray by infatuating him with tales of the beautiful women and gardens of the legendary kingdom of Turan by the Caspian Sea in Central Asia. Bizhan goes to Turan and falls in love with Manizhe (or Manijeh), the beautiful daughter of mythical king of Turan, Afrasiyab (or Afrasiab). Their affair is discovered by Afrasiyab, who banishes them into separate exiles. Eventually, they are reunited and rescued by the heroic Rustam sent by the Shah of Iran, Kay Khusraw (or Khosrow).
See also 39.12.72, 57.17.3, 57.17.4, 57.17.7, 57.17.10, M.71.49.3, M.73.5.609, M.78.9.5, M.81.12a-b, M.85.189, M.90.160.1, and AC1993.187.1.
