In our ninth episode, we explore Shahnameh: The Book of Kings by Ferdowsi. This national epic is the longest poem written by a single poet more than a thousand years ago! With more than 50,000 verses, Shahnameh is four times longer than Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey combined. It is a book full of love stories, tragedies, battles, and life lessons and one of the main reasons that Iranians still speak Persian to this day. Join us on this fun journey to find out more about Shahnameh and its many stories, heroes, demons, fairies, and magical creatures!

Hamid Rahmanian is an award-winning artist whose work centers on theater, moving image, and graphic arts. Since 2008, his work has focused on revitalizing Iran’s epic tale, Shahnameh, for a modern audience. Visit www.kingorama.com for more information.