The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 29, no. 8 (April, 1971)

A mong other things, the Houghton Shah-nameh is a marvelous bestiary,containing a weird zoo of dragons, fabulous birds, and such specializedcreatures as the lion-ape (Figures 6, 7), a mountain monster that had swallowedthe favorite daughter of the queen of Turan. Bahram Chubin, thedefeated rebel Shah of Iran, who had gone in exile to Turan, was askedby the queen to slay the beast, which he did by a combination of arrows,a lance, and a sword. As depicted here, the lion-ape is ornamentallyspotted, pleasantly furry, and credible. Like many of the pictures in ourmanuscript, this one can be assigned to two artists--a leading masterwho planned the miniature and contributed some of the drawing andcoloring, and a lesser one who was responsible for most of the execution.6, 7. Bahram Chubin Slays the Lion-Ape. 11 1/16 x 7 3/4 inches. Fol. 715v. 1970.301.74