Character · The Shahnameh · Volume III

Sarkashسرکش

sar-KASH

Khosrow Parviz's court minstrel, jealous rival of Barbad.

In the poem: First at E7.5, Khosrow Builds the Throne of Taqdis; last at E7.8, The Majesty of Khosrow Parviz
Named: 7 times, in 3 sections
Main stories: E7 The Story of Khosrow Parviz and Shirin (7)
Pictures: 3 panels · identity sheets

How we draw Sarkash

The identity sheet the illustrator works from. Tap to open full size. More in the Art section.

Sarkash, identity sheet: Mature court minstrel (~45) — **Mature court minstrel (~45)**

In the pictures

Sarkash in 3 woodcut panels of the illustrated poem, in story order. Tap one to see it with the couplets it illustrates.

E7.5The Throne of Taqdis and the Great Carpet

E7.6Barbad Sings from the Cypress

E7.6Barbad Bows Before Khosrow

In the poem’s own words

The 3 sections that name Sarkash most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Sarkash. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.

E7.5

Khosrow Builds the Throne of Taqdis

The poet gives the throne’s history: made for Fereydoon by Jahan Barzin, enlarged by each king, given the heavens by Jamasp, broken by Iskandar, its fragments hoarded. Khosrow gathers eleven hundred and twenty masters and rebuilds it in two years, with a jeweled carpet of the world spread before it.

E7.5.79
They spread the cloth; with wine, a feast was made;Sarkash sang praise while tuneful strings were played.

Sarkash named 1 time here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E7.6

The Minstrels Sarkash and Barbad

In the twenty-eighth year Barbad comes to court, and Sarkash bribes the chamberlain to bar him. Barbad dyes his clothes and lute green, hides in a cypress in the royal garden, and sings three songs between cups. The delighted Shah finds him and makes him chief minstrel.

E7.6.5
He would set you above Sarkash in praise,And grant the higher honor to your lays.”
E7.6.8
When Sarkash heard him play, his heart was sore;Confounded, he could bear the sound no more.
E7.6.37
The music drove Sarkash toward frantic dread;He knew the source, yet not a word he said.

Sarkash named 5 times here · read the section in the full poem · notes

E7.8

The Majesty of Khosrow Parviz

The poet describes the height of the reign: tribute from Hind and Turan, six named treasuries, twelve thousand women in the bower, elephants and horses past counting. Twice he breaks off to say that none of it held, and that a base-born hireling’s hand brought the king down.