Visual Echoes Of A Persian Palimpsest: Shahnameh's Narrative Revival And Cultural Preservation

Abstract

Fig. 1. Caligraphy of the first verse of Shahnameh (Book of Kings): “In the name of the lord of the soul and wisdom, whose wisdom, man’s thought cannot surpass.” This research paper examines how interactive visual storytelling techniques can be employed to revive the cultural significance of Shahnameh, the cele- brated Persian epic poem by Ferdowsi, and engage a broader, global audience. The study analyzes the key elements of Shahnameh, including its characters, stories, cultural values, and historical context, and comparatively evaluates traditional and modern sto- rytelling methods to bridge the gap between the ep- ic's rich heritage and contemporary audiences. The findings inform the design of a tabletop role-playing game that leverages Shahnameh's structure, themes, and visual language to immerse players in the myth- ological realm, thereby promoting cultural aware- ness and preservation