New Naqqaliشاهنامه
The Brothers Wail on the Watchtower

The Brothers Wail on the Watchtower

From C3.41, Lahhak and Farshidvard Bewail Piran. It illustrates C3.41.14–22:

  • C3.41.14
    Lahhak and Farshidvard climbed to the height,To reach the lookout with the field in sight.
  • C3.41.15
    They looked across the field from that bleak hill,And saw Piran, their lord, lie dead and still.
  • C3.41.16
    Their chief and brother lay with those beside,Ten chosen warriors, Turan’s lost pride.
  • C3.41.17
    There in the watchtower, grief-struck, they cried,And wailed aloud for blood and those who died:
  • C3.41.18
    “O lion, chief of Turan’s horse and spear,Great Piran, once the head of warriors here,
  • C3.41.19
    Our foes have gained the prize for which they toiled;For you the world has ended, dark and spoiled.
  • C3.41.20
    Who now will seek revenge for your lost breath?Who will pursue the path you kept till death?
  • C3.41.21
    What ruin came on Afrasiab’s land,To shatter all that lay beneath his hand?
  • C3.41.22
    We must behead ourselves and drown in blood,With sword and hand and body in one flood.”

In the picture

Woodcut panels, identity sheets and banners © 2026 New Naqqali LLC, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0: share and adapt them for non-commercial use, with credit to New Naqqali. Rights & permissions.