Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-3-2025 — The Shahnameh

8th March, 2025: The Shahnameh.

Right … does anyone need a second hand Mac … ?

I’ve got a 2023 M2 model for sale: that I’ll probably end up selling to the Romford branch of CeX.

Along side an unneeded monitor and a blu-ray version of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

We’ll have to see what Facebook’s Marketplace does … once I get genuine customers, instead of chancers!

~≈🖥️≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Olga†, Irene‡ and Debbi§ putting in their answers: with everyone scoring five out of five.


Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        8th March, AD1010, saw Ferdowski finish the Shahnameh.   The Shahnameh is an epic what: poem, saga or novel?

Q2)        The name, Shahnameh, translates as the book of what: kings, queens or princes?

Q3)        The Shahnameh was written in a version of what: Arabic, Persian or Turkish?

Q4)        The Shahnameh is seen the national epic of Greater where: Arabia, Iran or the Ottoman Empire?

Q5)        Finally … ?   James Atkinson, Arthur and Edmond Walker, and Reuben Levy, all translated the Shahnameh in to which European language?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        7th March is the feast day of María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa.   Was the saint Argentinian, Brazilian or Chilean?

A1)        Argentinian.   (She was canonised by Pope Francis: himself an Argentine.)

Q2)        Ali Razmara was assassinated outside a mosque: on 7th March, 1951.   The killing ended his tenure as Prime Minister of where: Iran, Iraq or Israel?

A2)        Iran.   (He was also known as Haj Ali Razmara, as he’d done the pilgrimage, the Hajj, to Mecca.)

Q3)        7th March, 2024, saw Sweden join what: NATO, the EU or the UN?

A3)        NATO.

Q4)        Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave a speech on 7th March, 1971: about the independence of what was then called East Pakistan.   What is East Pakistan now called?

A4)        Bangladesh.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Marcus Aurelius became one of two co-Roman Emperors, on 7th March, AD161.   Both were members of which Roman dynasty: the Julio-Claudians, the Nerva-Antonines or the Severans?

A5)        The Nerva-Antonines.

Here’s a thought …

“According to the traditions of former ages, recorded in the Bastan-námeh, the first person who established a code of laws and exercised the functions of a monarch […], was Kaiúmers.”

From the Wikisource text of the Shahnameh, translated by James Atkinson.

And a song …

The next ten question set is on 14th March: it’s about Michael Caine.


Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.



Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   (This monitor’s got a very good image, Mum.)

†        ‘Bup, bup’, and ‘Gau, gau’?   I’m going to have to remember those, Olga!   (Finding out why I was curious is possibly disappointing … !)

        Politicians?   What can I tell you … ?

        At any rate … ?   Have you seen my junk mail folder, have you … ?   Microsoft are sending me mail: people are complaining about my email account.   I believe them.   Thousands wouldn’t, mind!

‡        Morning, Irene: how is the day … ?

§        It’s a shame they couldn’t revive the character, Debbi.   Saying that … ?   There’s a few Big Finish audio dramas that do exactly that, bring back Liz Shaw, with Caroline Johns in the role.   There’s been a recent one that features Caroline John’s daughter in the role.   Apparently, Sadie Miller — Elisabeth Sladen’s daughter — has done something similar.

        I’ll be honest, Debbi: I would have killed to see the late Ian Marter return in The Sarah Jane: the kids laughing their heads off!