The historical city of Shiraz will hold a ceremony to mark the 1001st anniversary of the composition of Shahnameh, Ferdowsi's epic masterpiece.

Shahnameh Nights will be held by Ferdowsi Foundation on March 10 and 11, 2011, presenting different programs such as Naqqali, live traditional music performances and Shahnameh recitation sessions.

“One of the programs will be a meeting with NGOs which are active in cultural heritage issues,” director of the Ferdowsi Foundation Yaser Movahhedfar told ISNA, adding that members of such organizations review Iranian rituals and ceremonies to be registered on Iran's National Heritage List.

Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) is a classic among epic Persian poetry and recounts Iran's mythical and historical past. It was written in Persian at a time when Arabic was the main scientific and literary language of Iran.

The romance of Zal and Rudaba, the Seven Stages (or Labors) of Rostam, Rostam and Sohrab, Siavash and Soudabeh, Rostam and Akvan-e Div, the romance of Bizhan and Manizheh and Rostam and Esfandyar are among the most popular Shahnameh stories.

The work has been one of the greatest inspirations of Iranian people in life and arts and among the first Persian manuscripts to be illustrated.

Iran's Ferdowsi Foundation held numerous national and international ceremonies marking the Shahnameh millennium in 2010.