Ferdowsis statue and mausoleum in the Iranian city of Tus[/caption]A number of scholars and literature lovers are planning to celebrate National Ferdowsi Day to commemorate Iran's most famous epic poet, Hakim Abul-Qasim Ferdowsi.
Tehran is one of the cities that will host the celebration programs titledTall Palaceto pay tribute to the legendary poet Ferdowsi on his National Day, May 15.
Various cultural programs such as recitingThe Shahnameh, Naqqali and art exhibition are scheduled to be presented in different centers in Tehran.
A number of artworks created by master of miniature Mohammad Baqer Aqamiri, and paintings by Kiumars Qurchian will be showcased in the Qasr Garden Museum on May 14.
Naqqali performers Sirvan Nowrouzi and Mojtaba Hassan Beigi are slated to stage their programs at Tehrans Rostamabad Cultural House on May 17.
Meanwhile, a series of programs are also to be held in the historical city of Tus, where the poet was laid to rest.
Regarding outstanding literary work,The Shahnamehmillennium was accepted on UNESCO's 2010 calendar of events.
Ferdowsi is best known for his magnum opusThe Shahnameh(Book of the Kings) which is a classic among epic Persian poetry and recounts Iran's mythical and historical past.
The book which had great influence on the nations cultural heritage, chronicles the legendary history of the pre-Islamic kings of Iran from Keyumars to Yazdegerd III.
The great 11th-century poet Ferdowsi spent over three decades on the book that was written in Persian at a time when Arabic was the main scientific and literary language of Iran.
The book composed of 55,000 couplets has been translated into several languages in the world.
The romance ofZal and Rudaba,the Seven Stages (or Labors) of Rostam,Rostam and Sohrab,Siavash and Soudabeh,Rostam and Akvan Div, the romance ofBizhan and ManizhehandRostam and Esfandyarare among the most popular stories ofThe Shahnameh.
By Press TV
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