Siamak: The First Death in the World
Siamak in the Shahnameh: the beloved son of the first king Kayumars, slain by the Black Div, whose death is the first in the world and the first grief, avenged by his son Hushang.
Read article →Kurdish History Journal
The archive
Kay Qobad: The First King of the Kayanians
Kay Qobad in the Shahnameh: the founder of the Kayanian dynasty, the reclusive prince of Mount Alborz brought to the throne by Rostam to restore Iran after the fall of Nowzar.
Read article →Zav: The Just King of the Troubled Age
Zav in the Shahnameh: the aged and just king of the Pishdadian line, chosen after Nowzar's fall, who restored order and made peace with Afrasiab during a time of war and famine.
Read article →Nariman: The Forefather of the House of Heroes
Nariman in the Shahnameh: the great hero and forefather of the House of Nariman, son of Garshasp, father of Sam, and ancestor of Zal and the mighty Rostam.
Read article →Mehrab Kaboli: The King of Kabul and Grandfather of Rostam
Mehrab Kaboli in the Shahnameh: the wise king of Kabul, descended from Zahhak, father of Rudaba and grandfather of the great hero Rostam.
Read article →Abtin: The Noble Father of Faridun
Abtin in the Shahnameh: the noble father of Faridun, a descendant of the ancient kings slain by the tyrant Zahhak, whose death set his son on the path to free the world.
Read article →Faranak: The Mother Who Saved Faridun
Faranak in the Shahnameh: the brave and devoted mother of Faridun, who saved her infant son from the tyrant Zahhak and raised the hero who would free the world.
Read article →Arnavaz and Shahrnaz: The Princesses Freed from Zahhak
Arnavaz and Shahrnaz in the Shahnameh: the princesses of Jamshid's house, seized by the tyrant Zahhak and freed by Faridun, who became the mothers of Salm, Tur, and Iraj.
Read article →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 →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.
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