"Mihran Sitad Chooses a Daughter of the Khaqan of Chin", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi 1305 - 1365

This small painting, made on a page of the Shahnameh of Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, shows Mihran Sitad choosing a daughter of the Khaqan of Chin. Note the figures seated beneath an awning. This motif, the display of royal figures in a courtly setting, extends back to ancient Assyrian reliefs, where kings are depicted receiving tribute or dispensing justice. The seated pose, the hierarchical arrangement of figures, and the very act of choosing a royal bride are visual symbols laden with meaning. Such motifs can be traced through Byzantine art, where emperors are shown enthroned, and into medieval European art, signifying power and divine right. The gesture of Mihran Sitad choosing a bride resonates with ancient rituals of selection, like that of Esther choosing her king in the Old Testament. These acts connect personal choice with dynastic and political fate. Perhaps subconsciously, these historical echoes touch upon the universal human desire to ensure continuity and legacy through marriage and lineage.