The “Nushirvan listens to the owls”

This miniature was created by the Persian artist Mir Musavir for Shah Tahmasp I in 1539-43 and is dedicated to one of the most popular subjects from the “Treasury of Secrets”.

The story of miniature tells how the Sasanian Shah Nushirvan is hunting with his minister, when they pass a ruined village and hear owls calling. The Shah asks his wise minister what he thinks the birds are saying, and the minister comments that the owl is looking forward to owning many more abandoned villages, thanks to the king’s ruinous policies:

Saying: ‘Leave this ruined village to us

together with a few more like it.’

The other one answers, saying: ‘Do not

worry about this. See the tyranny of the king and do

not grieve.

‘If we have this same king and this destiny,

in a short time, I will give thee a hundred thousand

ruined villages like this.’

Further, Nushirvan lament bitterly, realizing the scale of the damage inflicted on his people, and returning to the camp turns into a completely different person: wise, fair and kind.

Thus, with a simple philosophical story presented in poetic form, Nizami perfectly showed not only the events of the Middle Ages, but also the naive dreams and aspirations of the people about a wise ruler.