Western/Central Asia

“The world is fleeting, and as insubstantial /  As a breath of wind; it flings a guiltless man / Into a dungeon, lifts another up / To glory and a throne, but finally / The star that rules our lives lays both of them / Within the grave’s grip and beneath the dust.”

Ferdowsi, The Legend of Seyavash from the Shahnameh (trans. Dick Davis)

The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Homer, Iliad

Homer, Iliad

Epic of King Gesar

Epic of King Gesar

Ferdowsi, Shahnameh

Ferdowsi, Shahnameh

Attar, The Conference of the Birds

Attar, The Conference of the Birds

The Book of Dede Korkut

The Book of Dede Korkut

Alpamish

Alpamish

Epic of Köroghlu

Epic of Köroghlu

Manas

Manas

Lakhnavi, The Adventures of Amir Hamza

Lakhnavi, The Adventures of Amir Hamza

David of Sassoun (Sasna Tsrer)

David of Sassoun (Sasna Tsrer)

The Epic of Jangar

The Epic of Jangar