Jamshid: The Golden King Whose Fall Made Way for Zahhak
Jamshid is the golden king of Iranic myth whose long reign founded the arts of civilization and the first Newroz, until pride cost him the farr and raised Zahhak.
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Dewreshe Evdi: A Kurdish Epic of Love, War and Loyalty
Dewreshe Evdi is the Kurdish epic of the warrior Dewresh, his horse Hadban and a tragic love barred by faith, sung by the dengbej. Discover the legend.
Read article →Faridun: The King Who Chained the Serpent-Tyrant
Faridun is the Iranic hero-king who, with Kawa the Blacksmith, overthrew the tyrant Zahhak and chained him beneath Mount Damavand. Discover the legend.
Read article →Rostam: The Greatest Hero of the Shahnameh
Rostam is the mightiest hero of the Shahnameh: champion of the Seven Labours, the tragic father of Sohrab, saved and aided by the Simurgh. Discover Rostam.
Read article →The Simurgh: The Great Healing Bird of Iranic Myth
The Simurgh is the great benevolent bird of Iranic mythology, who raised Zal and healed Rostam in the Shahnameh and embodies wisdom and healing. Discover the Simurgh.
Read article →The Dengbej: Keepers of the Kurdish Voice and Memory
The dengbej are the Kurdish bards who carry the epics, laments and memory of their people in song. Discover the voice-tellers at the heart of Kurdish culture.
Read article →Beyta Dimdim: The Kurdish Epic of the Last Stand at Dimdim
Beyta Dimdim is the Kurdish national epic of Khan Lepzerin's last stand at Dimdim Castle against Shah Abbas, second only to Mem u Zin. Discover the epic.
Read article →Zembilfiros: The Basket-Seller of Kurdish Legend
Zembilfiros, the basket-seller, is the Kurdish legend of a prince who gave up power for piety and died rather than betray his faith. Discover the tale.
Read article →Siyabend and Xece: The Tragic Mountain Love of Kurdish Legend
Siyabend and Xece is the tragic Kurdish love epic of an orphan hero and his beloved who die together on Mount Sipan. Discover the legend and its meaning.
Read article →The Kalam-e Saranjam: The Sacred Book of the Yarsani Faith
The Kalam-e Saranjam is the sacred scripture of the Yarsani (Ahl-e Haqq): the revealed poems of Sultan Sahak, written in Gorani and sung at the jam. Discover it.
Read article →The Jam: The Sacred Assembly of the Yarsani Faith
The jam is the central rite of the Yarsani (Ahl-e Haqq), the sacred assembly where the kalams are sung to the tanbur and the niyaz is shared. Discover the jam.
Read article →Mustafa Dawan: The Angel of Death in the Yarsani Faith
Mustafa Dawan, one of the Yarsani Haft Tan, is the angel of death and transformation, identified with Azrael and bound to the soul's journey. Discover him.
Read article →Dawud: The Divine Guide of the Yarsani Faith
Dawud, the Dalil of the Yarsani Haft Tan, is the divine guide who in one tradition refused to bow to Adam and appeared as al-Hallaj and Kawa. Discover him.
Read article →Pir Musi: The Divine Scribe of the Yarsani Faith
Pir Musi is the recording angel of the Yarsani Haft Tan, who set down the Kalam-e Saranjam with his Golden Pen. Discover the divine scribe of the Ahl-e Haqq.
Read article →Pir Benjamin: The Master of Masters in the Yarsani Faith
Pir Benjamin, the Pir of the Pirs, is one of the Yarsani Haft Tan and the archetype of every spiritual master. Discover the master of masters of the Ahl-e Haqq.
Read article →Khatun-e Razbar: The Divine Mother of the Yarsani Faith
Khatun-e Razbar is the only female being of the Yarsani Haft Tan and the virgin mother of Sultan Sahak. Discover the divine mother of the Ahl-e Haqq faith.
Read article →The Haft Tan: The Seven Holy Beings of the Yarsani Faith
The Haft Tan are the seven holy beings of the Yarsani (Ahl-e Haqq) faith, the divine companions of Sultan Sahak who govern the world. Discover the Seven Persons.
Read article →The Tanbur: The Sacred Lute of the Yarsani Faith
The tanbur is the sacred lute of the Yarsani (Ahl-e Haqq), the only instrument venerated as holy and the voice of the 72 sacred maqams. Discover its story.
Read article →Baba Yadgar: The Beloved Yarsani Saint and His Mountain Shrine
Baba Yadgar is one of the most revered Yarsani holy figures, and his mountain shrine near Dohab is a great Ahl-e Haqq pilgrimage site. Discover his story.
Read article →Sultan Sahak: The Founder of the Yarsani Faith
Sultan Sahak founded the Yarsani (Ahl-e Haqq) faith and is revered as a manifestation of God. Discover the Kurdish mystic and the religion he shaped.
Read article →Sheikh Shems: The Sun Angel of Yazidism
Sheikh Shems (Sex Sems) is the Yazidi sun angel, one of the Seven Holy Beings and the divine light of God. Discover the sun veneration at the heart of Yazidism.
Read article →The Seven Angels of Yazidism: The Heft Sirr Explained
The Heft Sirr, the Seven Angels of Yazidism, are the holy beings who govern the world, led by Tawuse Melek. Discover the Seven Mysteries of the Yazidi faith.
Read article →Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir: The Saint at the Heart of Yazidism
Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, a 12th-century Sufi, became the central saint of Yazidism, revered as an avatar of the Peacock Angel. Discover his life and legacy.
Read article →Carsema Sor: The Yazidi New Year and Day of Creation
Carsema Sor, Red Wednesday, is the Yazidi New Year and Day of Creation, when Tawuse Melek descended to earth. Discover its rituals and how it differs from Newroz.
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