Folio 180v: Siyavush Plays Polo before Afrasiyab

Mehran DHN

The Turanian king Afrasiyab suggested a game of polo and Siyavush accepted, requesting, however, that he be allowed Iranian players for his team, as Turanians would not play their hardest against their own king. Afrasiyab agreed and was wonderfully impressed with the outstanding skill of Siyavush as a player and horseman. Like the other Iranians, Siyavush wears a tall baton, or taj, in his turban. He is the player on the black horse in the center of the field; Afrasiyab, mounted, watches from the horizon.