The Tuhfet ul-Leta’if
Shah Ramin Kills the Poison Eagle
Fol. 168r from a manuscript of Tuhfet ul-Leta’if
Turkey, Istanbul, 1593–1594
Opaque watercolour, gold, and ink on paper
AKM280.43
While exploring an enchanted city, Shah Ramin and his troops encounter grave dangers. At one point, they are attacked by a monster with the ears of an elephant, the tusks of a boar, and a thunderous voice, but are saved by two lion-birds. These creatures fly them around the city before landing on the tomb of the city’s founder, Shedid ibn ‘Ad. There, they square off with a demon named ‘Arsun, who comes back to life as soon as he is killed and buried. Then, they are attacked by a Poison Eagle, a beast with two fire-spitting, razor-sharp disks in place of wings, tearing through human flesh while dazzling the eye. Shah Ramin kills the beast, but not before it destroys one of the lion-birds, seared by the Eagle’s acid urine.