Azhdahа̄: The Chimeric Monster in Ferdowsi and Beyond

MES Seminar Series talk given by Sam Lasman, University of Cambridge

In his epic Shа̄hnа̄ma (Book of Kings), Ferdowsi reworked older traditions to craft a recurring monstrous antagonist, the azhdahа̄. A hybrid entity combining human and reptilian qualities, this creature allowed classical Persian poets to explore fate, mortality, the past, and the complex relationships between people and other types of being.

For further information, contact:

Garbrielle Russo (E-mail: gmr44@cam.ac.uk)