FIRDAUSI
c.934 - 1020
Persian Poet
Firdausi was born Abu Ol-Qasem Mansur in Tus, Iran. He wrote the greatest national epic in world literature, the 'Book of Kings' or 'Shah-nameh' (60 000 couplets).
The poem was presented to the Sultan, who rewarded Firdausi with a pitiful amount of money. Disappointed the poet gave the money to a bath attendant and left for Afghanistan.