Concept

The Portrait of the Handmaiden and the Opening Plot of the Khosrow Nameh

In Section 15 of the Khosrow Nameh, Farid al-Din Attar initiates the core narrative of his epic romance by introducing Caesar's exceptionally beautiful handmaiden. The poet utilizes classical Persian lyric imagery to paint her portrait, describing her lips as a comforting remedy, her eyebrows as heavenly arches, and her tresses as dark musk. Her beauty captivates the court, including a gatekeeper, setting the stage for the narrative's primary romantic and dramatic conflicts when Caesar visits her chamber at night. This introduction shifts the poem from prologue and philosophical setup to the active, human-centered plot of the romance.

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Updated 2026-07-03

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Humanities

Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course