How did Ferdowsi's Shah-nameh influence Georgian literature?

During the cultural golden age of Georgia (late 11th to early 13th century), Georgian courtly romance and epic literature were significantly influenced by Persian literary traditions, most notably Ferdowsī’s 11th-century masterpiece, the Shāh-nāmeh ("Book of Kings").1

This influence is most prominently reflected in the work of Shota Rustaveli, the author of the Georgian national epic, The Knight in the Panther’s Skin (Vepkhvistqaosani). Rustaveli’s poem incorporates elements reminiscent of Persian poetry, such as the character Tariel, who is depicted wearing a panther's skin—a detail strongly evocative of the character Rostom from the Shāh-nāmeh.12

Beyond specific imagery, the Shāh-nāmeh helped shape the sophisticated, courtly style that defined this era of Georgian literature, fostering a tradition of epic storytelling that balanced imaginative plotting with philosophical depth.12