Sh?hin
SH?HIN
SH?HIN , Judeo-Persian poet. Though a few short fragments of Judeo-Persian poems were found in the Cairo *Genizah, Sh?hin is regarded the first and greatest Judeo-Persian poet who flourished during the 14th century. Most probably Sh?hin, meaning "falcon," is the pen name of the poet that appears in many places in his poetic productions; his real name and personal life are unknown. Scholars who briefly mentioned Sh?hin's works claimed that he was from *Shiraz, but internal evidence shows beyond any doubt that he was not from Shiraz or any place in the southern or central parts of Iran. He may have belonged to the Greater *Khor?s?n, probably the city of Merv. Sh?hin is as great to the Persian Jews as the composer of Sh?h-N?meh, Firdowsi, is to the Iranians.
Sh?hin's first poetic work is a paraphrase of the four last books of the Pentateuch which has to do with the life and deeds of Moses and the children of Israel, hence it was named "Mus?-N?meh" by Simon *?akham of Bukhara and Wilhelm Bacher of Budapest (see bibl.) who showed interest in the works of Sh?hin. The poet himself titled this work Shar?-i Torah ("Exegesis of the Torah"). It is indeed a rather free interpretation which makes use of Midrashim and even Muslim sources. Mus?-N?meh, which contains about ten thousand verses, was completed in 1327 c.e.
Sh?hin's second poetic work is Tafsir Megillat Ester ("Interpretation of the Book of Esther"), which is known to scholars by the name of Ardashir-N?meh. Ardashir (ruled 465–425 b.c.e.), according to Shahin, is Ahasuerus, though most scholars consider Xerxes (in Persian Khash?y?r, ruled 486–465 b.c.e.) to be the king who married Esther. Ardashir-N?meh consists of three separate but interwoven stories: (1) that of the Book of Esther; (2) a love story related to the Shiruyeh, the son of Vashti, and a Chinese princess, Mahz?d; (3) a brief narration of the life and deeds of Cyrus the Great, mostly based on the Book of Ezra, hence this part is sometimes known as Ezr?-N?meh. Here Sh?hin talks about Cyrus the son of Esther the Queen, a belief held also by some Muslim historians such as ?abar?. The depiction of nature, hunting, and battle is superb. Ardashir-N?meh contains about six thousand verses and was completed in 1333 c.e.
Sh?hin's third poetic work is a paraphrased versification of the first book of the Pentateuch, the Book of Genesis, which was named by the poet Shar?-i Torah, Sefer Bereshit, and by scholars Bereshit-N?meh. The major part of this work narrates the story of Joseph and Potiphar?s wife, hence it is also known as "Yosef va Zolaikh?." Bereshit-N?meh makes extensive use of Midrashim and especially Muslim sources known as Qi?a? al-Anbiy?? (the stories of the prophets). As the poet's last work, it displays maturity of mind, great erudition, and profound knowledge of the Persian language with all its rhetorical devices. Bereshit-N?meh, which contains about ten thousand verses, was completed in 1359 c.e.
Simon ?akham published all of Sh?hin's works in Jerusalem.
bibliography:
J.P. Assmusen, "Judaeo-Persica i, Sh?hin Shir?zis Ardashirn?ma," in: Acta Orientalia, 28 (1964), 243–61; W. Bacher, Zwei juedisch-persische Dichter Schahin und Imrani (1908); D. Blieske, Šahin-e Širazis Ardašir-Buch (1966); Sh. ?akham, Sh?hin Torah (1905); idem, Sefer Shar? Sh?hin al Megillat Ester (1910); V.B. Moreen, "A Dialogue between God and Satan in Sh?hin's Bereshit-N?mah," in: Sh. Shaked and A. Netzer (eds.), Irano-Judaica, 3 (1994), 127–41; A. Netzer, "A Judeo-Persian Footnote: Sh?hin and 'Emr?ni," in: Israel Oriental Studies, 4 (1974), 258–64; idem, "Some Notes on the Characterization of Cyrus the Great in Jewish and Judeo-Persian Writings," in: Acta Iranica, 2 (1974), 35–52; idem, O?ar Kitvei-Yad shel Yehudei Paras be-Makhon Ben Zvi (1985); idem, "The Story of the Prophet Sho?ayb in Shahin's Mus?n?meh," in: Acta Iranica, 16 (1990), 152–67; idem, "Notes and Observations Concerning Sh?hin's Birthplace," in: Sh. Shaked and A. Netzer (eds.) Irano-Judaica, 4 (1999), 187–202; E. Spicehandler, "Sh?hin's Influence on B?b?i ben Lotf: The Abraham-Nimrod Legend," ibid., 2 (1990), 158–65.
[Amnon Netzer (2nd ed.)]