Azadeh (Shahnameh)

Bahram V hunting with Azada in the back seat, Sasanian metalwork

In the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp

Āzādeh (Persian: آزاده) is a Roman girl in Shahnameh and other works in Persian literature. When Bahram-e Gur (Bahram V) was in al-Hirah, she was offered to him as a slave-girl. Azadeh was a harpist. Her story with Bahram is mentioned in other works such as Nezami Ganjavi's Bahramnameh (also known as Haft Paykar) and Tha'alibi's Ḡorar. She always accompanies Bahram in hunting. One day she expresses sympathy for the gazelles, instead of praising Bahram's hunting skills. The young and ignorant Bahram become angry of this and let his camel trample her. Tha'alibi mentions that Al-Mundhir I ibn al-Nu'man had the event painted in the palace of Khawarnaq. This story is also narrated by Nezami Ganjavi, but with a happy ending. In Nezami's version, her name is mentioned as Fetneh (فتنه). The hunting scene of Bahram and Azadeh was a popular subject in Persian miniature.