World Ferdowsi Day commemorated

5/15/06

Tehran, May 15, IRNA-An Iranian official, on the occasion of today's observance of World Ferdowsi Day, expressed appreciation for the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of designating May 15 as World Ferdowsi Day and for enshrining cultural and historical events.

The Lion and the Throne
Stories from the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, Volume 1

In a message faxed to Iran Daily on Sunday, Mahmoud Mohammadi- Araqi, head of the Culture and Islamic Communications Organization, pointed to the Shah-Nameh as the most credible document on the cultural and historical identity of Iranians.

"The book has managed to protect Persian culture and literature over the centuries against numerous foreign invasions," the message noted.

Fathers and Sons
Stories from the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, Volume 2

The great Persian poet penned his global masterpiece Shah-Nameh (Book of Kings) over 1,000 years ago.

The book, one of the most outstanding works of Persian literature, contains 60,000 couplets, mostly Persian legends.

It took Ferdowsi some 30 years to write the book in pure Persian language, avoiding Arabic words as much as possible.

Shah-Nameh was completed around 989 or 990 AD.