IFAO

L’épopée des rois de Perse fut écrite par le poète Firdawsī de Ṭūs à la gloire des rois d’Iran. Exaltation d’un système politique, l’œuvre met en évidence une autre figure concurrente du roi, celle du héros. Le héros est en effet un personnage hors du commun, par son corps, son aspect mais aussi sa geste et sa destinée. Par-delà les siècles, survit en effet la figure emblématique du grand guerrier Rustam, sauveur de la royauté, maître de guerre au destin tragique. Son apparence et les symboles qui lui sont associés permettent d’entamer une réflexion comparatiste sur la figure héroïque et sa place vis-à-vis de la personne royale dans la littérature épique illustrée.

Mots-clés : Firdawsī – Livre des rois – Rustam – héros – Zāl – Zābulistān – babr-i bayān – Isfandiyār – magie – sīmurġ

The epic tale of the Persian kings was written by the poet Firdawsī of Ṭūs in order to glorify ancient Iranian kingship. The poem exalts a political system, but also highlights another character, who is competitor to the king: the hero. The hero is indeed an unusual character, through his body and features, and also in his gestures and his very destiny. Over the centuries, the emblematic figure of Rustam has survived as one of the greatest warriors of the ­epics and saviour of the Persian kings. By his appearance, his symbols, his mission throughout the centuries, Rustam allows for a reflection on the heroic figure and its links to the king in ­illustrated epics and tales.

Keywords: Firdawsī – Book of Kings – Rustam – hero – Zāl – Zābulistān – babr-i bayān – Isfandiyār – magic – sīmurġ