Kahram: The Commander Who Sacked Balkh
Kahram in the Shahnameh: the Turanian commander and son of Arjasp who led the army that took Balkh, killed the aged Lohrasp, and was slain by Esfandiyar.
Read article →Kurdish History Journal
The archive
Peshotan: The Righteous Immortal Prince
Peshotan in the Shahnameh and Zoroastrian tradition: the righteous brother of Esfandiyar and son of Goshtasp, one of the deathless immortals who awaits the renovation of the world.
Read article →Jamasp: The Sage Who Foretold the Future
Jamasp in the Shahnameh: the wise grand vizier and astrologer of King Goshtasp, who read the horoscopes and foretold the deaths of Zarir and the tragic Esfandiyar.
Read article →Bidarafsh: The Sorcerer Who Slew Zarir
Bidarafsh in the Shahnameh: the Turanian sorcerer-warrior and envoy of Arjasp who treacherously slew the hero Zarir, and was avenged by the boy Bastur.
Read article →Bastur: The Boy Who Avenged His Father
Bastur in the Shahnameh: the young son of Zarir who defied the king, rode into battle, and avenged his slain father, a hero rooted in the ancient Memorial of Zarer.
Read article →Arjasp: The Turanian King and Enemy of the Faith
Arjasp in the Shahnameh: the Turanian king who warred against Goshtasp and the new faith, sacked Balkh, slew Lohrasp and Zarir, and was killed at last by Esfandiyar.
Read article →The Seven Labours of Esfandiyar: The Prince's Haft Khan
The Seven Labours of Esfandiyar (Haft Khan) in the Shahnameh: the invulnerable prince's seven trials on the road to the Brazen Hold to free his sisters and slay Arjasp.
Read article →Arzhang Div: The Demon-Commander of Mazandaran
Arzhang Div in the Shahnameh: the demon-commander and herald of the White Demon of Mazandaran, slain by Rostam in the Seven Labours before the rescue of Kay Kavus.
Read article →The Seven Labours of Rostam: The Haft Khan
The Seven Labours of Rostam (Haft Khan) in the Shahnameh: the famous sequence of seven trials, from the lion and the dragon to the slaying of the White Demon.
Read article →Div-e Sepid: The White Demon of Mazandaran
Div-e Sepid in the Shahnameh: the White Demon of Mazandaran, the giant sorcerer-chieftain of the divs slain by Rostam at the climax of his Seven Labours.
Read article →Akvan Div: The Trickster Demon Who Hurled Rostam into the Sea
Akvan Div in the Shahnameh: the shapeshifting trickster demon who lifted the sleeping Rostam into the sky and hurled him into the sea, only to be outwitted and beheaded.
Read article →Puladvand: The Champion Who Wrestled Rostam
Puladvand in the Shahnameh: the mighty Turanian champion who captured Iranian heroes and wrestled the great Rostam, only to be overcome and put to flight.
Read article →Kashvad: The Golden-Helmed Patriarch
Kashvad in the Shahnameh: the golden-helmed patriarch of the great House of Gudarz, vanquisher of armies and ancestor of a whole line of Iranian heroes.
Read article →Ashkbus: The Champion Felled by Rostam's Arrow
Ashkbus in the Shahnameh: the proud champion who defeated Rohham, only to be slain on foot by a single arrow from Rostam in one of the epic's most celebrated combats.
Read article →Kamus of Kashan: The Champion Slain by Rostam
Kamus of Kashan in the Shahnameh: the mighty foreign champion-king allied to Afrasiab, one of the most formidable warriors of the epic, brought down by Rostam's lasso.
Read article →Viseh: Patriarch of the House of Viseh
Viseh in the Shahnameh: the patriarch of the great Turanian House of Viseh, father of Piran and Houman, and a leading commander of Turan in the wars with Iran.
Read article →Shideh: The Son of Afrasiab
Shideh in the Shahnameh: the proud son of Afrasiab who challenged his uncle Kay Khosrow to single combat in the great final war between Iran and Turan, and fell.
Read article →Pashang: The King of Turan Who Renewed the War
Pashang in the Shahnameh: the king of Turan, descendant of Tur and father of Afrasiab, who reopened the ancient war with Iran and sent his son to invade in Nowzar's reign.
Read article →Salm: The Eldest Son of Faridun
Salm in the Shahnameh: the eldest son of Faridun, given the western lands, who incited the murder of his brother Iraj out of envy and was slain by Manuchehr.
Read article →Tur: The Son of Faridun Who Slew Iraj
Tur in the Shahnameh: the son of Faridun who, envious of his brother Iraj, murdered him and began the long wars of Iran and Turan, and the ancestor of the Turanians.
Read article →Jarireh: The Devoted Wife of Siyavash
Jarireh in the Shahnameh: the noble daughter of Piran, first wife of Siyavash and mother of the tragic Forud, a devoted woman undone by grief in the wars of Iran and Turan.
Read article →Barzu: The Grandson of Rostam
Barzu in Persian epic: the mighty son of Sohrab and grandson of Rostam, hero of the Borzu-nama, who unknowingly fought his own grandfather before joining the heroes of Iran.
Read article →Banu Goshasp: The Warrior Daughter of Rostam
Banu Goshasp in Persian epic: the warrior-woman daughter of Rostam, heroine of her own epic the Banu Goshasp-nama, who bested her suitors, wed Giv, and bore Bizhan.
Read article →Aghrirat: The Righteous Turanian Prince
Aghrirat in the Shahnameh: the kind and righteous brother of Afrasiab, who spared the Iranian captives out of mercy and was murdered by his own brother for it.
Read article →