TEHRAN An exhibition titled "Shahnameh on Carpet" is being held at Moscow's Museum of Orientalism to introduce Iran's cultural heritage. Among the works on display at the 10-day exhibition are 26 pieces of precious Iranian carpets representing themes from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and Iranian literature and mythology.
Images on the carpets, woven in the contemporary period, include the portrait of the renowned Iranian epic poet Abolqassem Ferdowsi, the first and last pages of the Shahnameh, the story of Khosro Parviz, the killing of Esfandiar by Rostam and the rule of King Keikhosro. Based on historical documents, the weaving of images on carpets began toward the end of the 9th century A.H., and in the 13th century and early 14th century the art of making images on carpets flourished.
Artists' attention was focused on national and epic stories in this period. Traditional Iranian costumes and a number of traditional musical instruments such as tanbour, kamancheh, santour, kanoon, oud and robab are also on display at the exhibition.