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.
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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 →Houman: The Chivalrous Turanian Hero
Houman in the Shahnameh: the famous Turanian commander, brother of Piran, whose bravery, loyalty, and chivalry won the admiration even of his Iranian enemies.
Read article →Gorgin: The Envious Companion of Bizhan
Gorgin in the Shahnameh: the Iranian hero whose envy of Bizhan lured him into Turan and into the dungeon of Afrasiab, setting in motion the great love story of Bizhan and Manizheh.
Read article →Hojir: Castellan of the White Fortress
Hojir in the Shahnameh: the hero of the House of Gudarz and castellan of the White Fortress, whose refusal to point out Rostam helped seal the tragedy of Sohrab.
Read article →Forud: The Tragic Son of Siyavash
Forud in the Shahnameh: the young son of Siyavash and half-brother of Kay Khosrow, wrongly slain by the very Iranian army sent to avenge his father, a great tragedy.
Read article →Zavareh: The Loyal Brother of Rostam
Zavareh in the Shahnameh: the loyal brother of Rostam and son of Zal, who fought at the great hero's side through the wars and died with him in Shaghad's treacherous pit.
Read article →Shaghad: The Betrayer of Rostam
Shaghad in the Shahnameh: the jealous half-brother of Rostam who plotted the great hero's death in a pit of spears, only to be slain by the dying Rostam's last arrow.
Read article →Rohham: Hero of the House of Gudarz
Rohham in the Shahnameh: the loyal paladin of the House of Gudarz, son of Gudarz and brother of Giv, victor at the Battle of the Twelve Rooks in the wars for Siyavash.
Read article →Klash: The Handmade Shoes of Kurdistan
Klash, the handmade Kurdish shoes of Hawraman: the white, hand-stitched footwear of cotton and leather worn with traditional dress, a UNESCO-honored craft and symbol of identity.
Read article →Kurdish Kilims and Carpets: The Weaving of Kurdistan
Kurdish kilims and carpets: the great weaving tradition of Kurdistan, from the bold tribal kilim to the famed Bijar and Senneh rugs, woven by Kurdish women in wool and symbol.
Read article →Jli Kurdi: The Traditional Dress of the Kurds
Traditional Kurdish dress, jli kurdi: the colorful layered national costume of the Kurds, from the men's shal u shapik to the women's kras and kawa, a proud symbol of identity.
Read article →Govend: The Kurdish Circle Dance
Govend, the Kurdish circle dance: the hand-holding communal dance also called halparke, led by a handkerchief-waving serchopi, the heart of Kurdish weddings and Newroz.
Read article →Deq: The Traditional Tattoos of Kurdish Women
Deq, the traditional Kurdish tattoo: the ancient hand-poked markings worn by Kurdish women for protection, fertility, beauty, and tribal identity, now being revived.
Read article →Buka Barane: The Kurdish Rain Bride
Buka Barane, the Kurdish Rain Bride: the ancient rain-summoning ritual in which children carry a decorated doll through the streets in time of drought, pleading for rain.
Read article →Pir Shalyar: The Ancient Festival of Hawraman
The Pir Shalyar festival of Hawraman: the ancient Kurdish ceremony on the fortieth day of winter marking the wedding of the wise healer Pir Shalyar and a Bukharan princess.
Read article →The Peri: The Fairy Beings of Kurdish Folklore
The Peri in Kurdish and Iranic folklore: the beautiful winged fairy beings, once feared as demons and later beloved as fair spirits of the mountains and waters.
Read article →Mor Kirin: The Yazidi Baptism and the Sacred Springs
Yazidi baptism, mor kirin: the sacred rite of the White Spring at Lalish, in which holy water is poured three times to seal a Yazidi into the faith and community.
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