By Giselle Rodríguez
Dr. Shekoufeh Mohammadi, PhD in linguistics from the University of Alicante, gave a series of lectures about the Shahnameh, Iran's most remarkable epic poem, at El Colegio de México in Mexico City.
Written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between 977 and 1010, it consists of 50,740 verses, which makes it the longest epic poem written by a single author. The Shahnameh, which literally means Book of Kings, contains ancient myths and legends as well as 1,000 verses written by another Persian poet: Daqiqi.
In the 19th. century it used to be read at tea houses until this form of entertainment lost popularity. However, the Shahnameh continues to be relevant both, as a defining part of Iran's identity and as a reference book about Persian language and customs.
In fact people continue to memorize parts of it and the book is still given as a wedding present, as some consider the advice contained in it is still useful and valuable.
Dr. Mohammadi, who currently works as a researcher for the Institute of Philological Investigations of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, will publish an article entitled: "Heroes and anti-heroes of the Shahnameh: an ethical-mythical vision" in the next number of the magazine of the Center for Asian and African Studies of El Colegio de México.
The article will be accompanied by a translation into Spanish of three stories of the Shahnameh by Kaveh Parmas, an Iranian actor and singer.
The last session of the series of lectures given by Dr. Mohammadi in February 2016 included a live reading of the story of Zahhak and Fereydun by Parmas and Indira Pensado, a Mexican actress, illustrated with a selection of miniatures of the Shahnameh Tahmasbi from the 16th. century, paintings by Hamid Rahmanian, a contemporary Iranian graphic artist, and black and white photographs, a sort of modern recreation of the Pardeh Khani, a traditional style of telling stories with the help of pictures painted on a curtain included in 2011 in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Some illustrated copies of the Shahnameh are being exhibited at Mexico City's National Museum of Cultures as part of the exhibition "Same and different. Myths of three continents" open until June 26, 2016. Admission is free.