Hushang and Tahmuras: The Kings Who Brought Fire and Writing
Hushang and Tahmuras, the early culture-hero kings of the Shahnameh: the discovery of fire and the Sadeh feast, and Tahmuras the demon-binder who won the gift of writing.
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The archive
Kay Kavus: The Flawed King of the Kayanians
Kay Kavus, the proud and flawed Kayanian king of the Shahnameh: the Mazandaran disaster, the flight to heaven, and the tragedy of his son Siyavash.
Read article →Afrasiab: The Dread King of Turan
Afrasiab, the king of Turan and great archenemy of Iran in the Shahnameh: the usurper who murdered Siyavash and was destroyed by his own grandson Kay Khosrow.
Read article →Manuchehr: The Avenger-King of the Pishdadians
Manuchehr, the Pishdadian king of the Shahnameh who avenged Iraj, began the long Iran-Turan war, and reigned as the heroes Sam, Zal and Rostam arose.
Read article →Frashokereti: The Zoroastrian Renovation of the World
Frashokereti, the Zoroastrian end-times: the final renovation of the world, the saviour Saoshyant, the resurrection, the river of molten metal and the defeat of evil.
Read article →Arash the Archer: The Hero of the Sacrificial Arrow
Arash the Archer (Arash-e Kamangir), the Iranic hero who poured his life into one arrow shot from Mount Damavand to set a just border and free his people.
Read article →Sraosha (Soroush): The Yazata of Conscience
Sraosha (Soroush), the Zoroastrian yazata of obedience and conscience: the divine messenger who fights the demons by night and guards the soul at the Chinvat Bridge.
Read article →The Divs: Demons of Iranic Myth
The Divs, the demons of Iranic myth: the daevas who serve Ahriman, the White Div of Mazandaran slain by Rostam, and the trickster Akvan Div.
Read article →Tishtrya: The Star-Yazata of Rain
Tishtrya, the Zoroastrian star-yazata of rain (the star Sirius), who battles Apaosha the demon of drought to free the waters, honoured at the Tiregan festival.
Read article →Verethragna (Bahram): The Yazata of Victory
Verethragna, or Bahram, the Zoroastrian yazata of victory: his ten dazzling incarnations, his ancient Indo-Iranian roots, and the Atash Bahram fire of victory.
Read article →The Faravahar: The Winged Symbol of Zoroastrianism
The Faravahar, the winged-disc symbol of Zoroastrianism: its ancient origins, its contested meanings, and its modern revival as an emblem of Iranic identity.
Read article →Bizhan and Manizheh: The Great Love Story of the Shahnameh
Bizhan and Manizheh, the great love story of the Shahnameh: an Iranian hero, a Turanian princess, a pit-prison, and the daring rescue led by Rostam.
Read article →Esfandiyar: The Invulnerable Prince of the Shahnameh
Esfandiyar, the invulnerable prince of the Shahnameh and champion of Zoroaster's faith, doomed by his father's broken promise to a fatal duel with Rostam.
Read article →Kay Khosrow: The Ideal King of the Shahnameh
Kay Khosrow, the ideal just king of the Shahnameh, son of Siyavash, who avenged his father, won the great war against Turan, then vanished into the mountains.
Read article →Siyavash: The Pure Prince and Martyr of the Shahnameh
Siyavash, the pure prince of the Shahnameh who rode unharmed through fire yet was betrayed and martyred in exile, his spilled blood giving rise to a flower.
Read article →Sohrab: The Tragic Son of Rostam in the Shahnameh
Sohrab, the tragic son of the hero Rostam in the Shahnameh, slain unknowing by his own father in single combat: the most heartbreaking tale of Iranic epic.
Read article →The Amesha Spentas: The Bounteous Immortals of Ahura Mazda
The Amesha Spentas, the seven Bounteous Immortals of Zoroastrianism: the holy emanations of Ahura Mazda through whom the Wise Lord created and governs the world.
Read article →Ahriman: The Destructive Spirit of Iranic Myth
Ahriman, or Angra Mainyu, is the destructive spirit of Zoroastrianism, the cosmic adversary of Ahura Mazda and the dark power behind the serpent-tyrant Zahhak.
Read article →Ahura Mazda: The Wise Lord of the Iranic World
Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, is the supreme God of Zoroastrianism, creator of all good and foe of Ahriman, with deep echoes in the Kurdish and Yazidi worlds.
Read article →Zoroaster: The Prophet of the Wise Lord and His Kurdish Revival
Zoroaster, or Zarathustra, the ancient Iranic prophet who taught the Wise Lord Ahura Mazda and the struggle of good and evil, and whose faith Kurds are reviving today.
Read article →Anahita: The Iranic Goddess of the Waters and Sovereignty
Anahita is the great Iranic goddess of the waters, fertility and sovereignty, worshipped beside Mithra and echoed in the sacred springs of Kurdistan. Explore the legend.
Read article →Mithra: The Ancient Iranic God of the Sun and the Covenant
Mithra, or Mehr, is the ancient Iranic god of covenant, light and the sun, honoured at Mehrgan and Yalda and echoed in Kurdish sun-reverence. Explore the legend.
Read article →Zal: The White-Haired Hero Raised by the Simurgh
Zal is the white-haired hero of the Shahnameh, abandoned at birth and raised by the Simurgh, who became the father of Rostam. Discover the Iranic legend.
Read article →The Shahnameh: The Book of Kings Behind Kurdish and Iranic Myth
The Shahnameh, Ferdowsi's Book of Kings, is the great Iranic epic behind Zahhak, Kawa, Faridun and Rostam. Discover the poem and its Kurdish inheritance.
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